Study Reveals Benefits of Alternative Tobacco Products in Reducing Exposure to Harmful Substances

JAKARTA - A recent clinical trial from the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine revealed that the use of alternative tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches has the potential to help adult smokers switch from smoking habits while reducing exposure to various harmful substances produced from the process of burning tobacco.

Associate Professor Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Jessica M. Yingst said the limited clinical trial results provide important findings as an effort to reduce risk for adult smokers who have not succeeded in switching from smoking habits through other methods.

"For smokers who have not succeeded in quitting smoking through the recommended approach, this study shows that switching to alternative tobacco products is associated with a real reduction in exposure to harmful toxic substances while supporting the transition from smoking habits. This is a meaningful finding for public health," said Yingst, quoted Wednesday, July 15.

The study titled Toxicant Exposures After Switching From Cigarettes to a Pod-Based Electronic Cigarette published in May 2026 showed that participants who used alternative tobacco products in the short term were about three times more likely to switch from smoking habits than participants who used non-nicotine products.

The study also found a reduction in a number of biomarkers of exposure to harmful substances in the group of users of alternative tobacco products, thus strengthening the understanding that most harmful substances come from the process of tobacco combustion, not from nicotine itself.

According to Yingst, nicotine can indeed cause dependence, but it is not the main cause of various diseases that have long been associated with smoking activities. The risk mainly comes from various compounds that are formed when tobacco is burned.

"Adequate delivery of nicotine is a key factor in the transition process. Alternative tobacco products provide nicotine for consumers while significantly reducing exposure to various harmful chemicals," he explained.

Chairman of the Indonesian Vape Consumer Association (AKVINDO), Paido Siahaan, welcomed the results of the study. According to him, the findings from the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine further strengthen the scientific evidence that alternative tobacco products have the potential to reduce exposure to harmful substances for adult smokers who switch from smoking habits.

"This study shows that participants still get nicotine, but with a decreased exposure to harmful substances. These findings further strengthen the understanding that most harmful substances come from the process of burning tobacco, so by eliminating the burning process, exposure to a number of harmful substances can be reduced," said Paido.

However, he emphasized that alternative tobacco products are not risk-free products and are only intended for adult smokers who want to switch from smoking habits. Therefore, education to the public and supervision of product circulation must continue to be strengthened.

"Education about alternative tobacco products needs to be carried out periodically so that more people understand that these products are not for minors, pregnant women, or non-smokers. For adult smokers who are not able to switch from smoking habits, the use of alternative tobacco products that are not burned can be a more rational approach to reducing harm than continuing to smoke," concluded Paido.