When smokers switch completely from cigarettes to tobacco heating products (THPs), their exposure to certain cigarette smoke toxicants is significantly reduced, a clinical study conducted by British American Tobacco (BAT) has found
The study — conducted in Japan where THPs are popular — comprised 180 healthy smokers and was carried out in a clinic over a period of eight days. All participants were smokers for at least three years prior to the study.
For the first two days of the study, participants continued to smoke as normal, and samples of their urine, blood and exhaled breath was collected to measure biomarkers of exposure.
For the five days after that, participants were randomly assigned to continue smoking, switch to a THP or stop smoking altogether. Again, samples were collected for analysis.
The results showed that the concentration of certain cigarette smoke toxicants in urine samples was reduced in smokers in the group who switched to THP. In some cases these reductions were not significantly different from those seen in the group who stopped smoking.
“These results are very encouraging,” said James Murphy, head of reduced risk substantiation at BAT.
“The next step will be to determine whether this reduction in exposure translates to a reduced biological effect, and in turn, a reduction in adverse health effects for those smokers who switch completely to THP,” he added.
As explained by the authors, who presented the research at the annual conference of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco in Baltimore, Maryland (21–24 February 2018), THPs are designed to heat rather than burn tobacco meaning that they do not produce smoke and the toxicants associated with tobacco combustion are substantially reduced.
They concluded that the results suggest that THPs have the potential to substantially reduce exposure compared with smoking conventional cigarettes.
On 27 February 2018, Chris Proctor, chief scientific officer at BAT, along with representatives from three other tobacco companies, gave evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, as part of its inquiry into e-cigarettes.
He focused specifically on the need for policy makers to maximise the potential of smokeless products — such as e-cigarettes and THPs — as providing an alternative to smoking tobacco.
Proctor told MPs of three key elements required for the growth of these products: a need for a broad range of products; ensuring appropriate regulation; and a greater focus on product standards and quality.
 Gale N, McEwan M, Eldridge A et al. Changes in biomarkers of exposure on switching from a conventional cigarette to tobacco heating products: a randomised, controlled study in healthy Japanese subjects. Presented at SRNT Annual Meeting, 21–24 February 2018, Baltimore, USA. Poster 5–188 available at: http://bat-science.com/groupms/sites/BAT_9GVJXS.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DOAW7FNY/$FILE/SRNT2018%20JPBoEPK%20FINAL.PDF?openelement (accessed February 2018)
"Wakati wavutaji sigara wanapobadilisha kabisa kutoka kwa sigara hadi bidhaa za joto za tumbaku (THPs), mfiduo wao kwa sumu fulani za moshi wa sigara hupunguzwa kwa kiasi kikubwa, ""utafiti wa kliniki uliofanywa na British American Tobacco (BAT) uligundua." Washiriki wote walikuwa wavutaji sigareti kwa angalau miaka mitatu kabla ya utafiti huo. Katika siku mbili za kwanza za utafiti huo, washiriki waliendelea kuvuta sigara kama kawaida, na sampuli za mkojo wao, damu na pumzi iliyotolewa ilikusanywa ili kupima biomarkers ya mfiduo. Katika siku tano zilizopita, washiriki walipewa nafasi ya kuendelea kuvuta sigara, kubadilisha kwa THP, au kuacha kabisa. Kwa mara nyingine tena, sampuli zilikusanywa kwa ajili ya kuchunguzwa. Matokeo yalionyesha kuwa mkusanyiko wa sumu fulani za moshi wa sigareti katika sampuli za mkojo ulipungua kwa wavutaji katika kikundi kilichobadilisha kwa THP. Katika visa fulani kupungua huko hakukuwa tofauti sana na kulivyoonekana katika kikundi kilichoacha kuvuta sigareti. "Hizi matokeo ni ya kutia moyo sana", alisema James Murphy, mkuu wa kupunguza hatari uthibitisho katika BAT. "Hatua inayofuata itakuwa kuamua kama kupunguzwa kwa mfiduo huu kunatafsiriwa kuwa athari ya kibiolojia iliyopunguzwa, na kwa upande wake, kupunguzwa kwa athari mbaya kwa afya kwa wale wavutaji ambao hubadilisha kabisa kwa THP, "aliongeza. Kwa mujibu wa utafiti huo uliofanywa na Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco huko Baltimore, Maryland, THPs zimetengenezwa kwa ajili ya kupasha joto badala ya kuchoma tumbaku, na hivyo hazitokezi moshi na sumu zinazohusiana na kuchoma tumbaku hupunguzwa. Kwa hivyo, matokeo ya utafiti yanaonyesha kuwa THPs zina uwezo wa kupunguza athari kwa kiasi kikubwa ikilinganishwa na kuvuta sigareti za kawaida. Chris Proctor, Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Sayansi katika BAT, pamoja na wawakilishi kutoka makampuni mengine matatu ya tumbaku, walitoa ushahidi kwa Kamati ya Sayansi na Teknolojia ya Bunge la Commons, kama sehemu ya uchunguzi wake juu ya sigara za elektroniki. "Mwandishi huyo pia alisisitiza kuwa ""watengenezaji wa sera wanapaswa kuongeza uwezo wa bidhaa zisizo na moshi, kama vile sigara za elektroniki na THP, kama mbadala wa kuvuta sigara.""" "Proctor aliwaambia wabunge juu ya mambo matatu muhimu yanayohitajika kwa ukuaji wa bidhaa hizi: haja ya aina pana ya bidhaa, kuhakikisha udhibiti sahihi, na kuzingatia zaidi viwango vya bidhaa na ubora. """ Gale N, McEwan M, Eldridge A et al. Mabadiliko katika biomarkers ya mfiduo juu ya kubadili kutoka sigareti ya kawaida kwa bidhaa za joto za tumbaku: utafiti wa randomized, kudhibitiwa katika masomo ya afya ya Kijapani. Mkutano wa Mwaka wa SRNT, Februari 21, 2018 huko Baltimore, Marekani "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Bat-Science"" ni jina la wavuti ya ""Bat-Science"" na ""Bat-Science"" ni jina la wavuti ya ""Bat-Science"" na ""Bat-Science"" ni jina la ""Bat-Science"" na ""Bat-Science"" ni jina la ""Bat-Science"" na ""Bat-Science"" ni jina la ""Bat-Science"" na ""Bat-Science"" ni jina la ""Bat-Science"" na ""Bat-Science"" ni jina la ""Bat-Science"" na ""Bat-Science."""