Confirmation of absence of combustion in an electronically heated tobacco product using multiple methods

• Several phenomena associated with the combustion were investigated using DT3.1. • The intended use of DT3.1 did not exhibit any indications of tobacco combustion. • DT3.1 aerosol is distinct from cigarette smoke, as it does not involve combustion. The use of electrically heated tobacco products (eHTP) has increased worldwide and offers a potentially less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes. In this paper, several parameters related to tobacco combustion were investigated using the Direct Heating Tobacco System Platform 3 Generation 1 (DT3.1). The onset of tobacco combustion was observed at approximately 400 °C. The maximum heater temperature remained below the ignition temperature of tobacco and the stick temperature did not exceed the heater temperature during the heating process. No visible ash formation was observed with the stick after use, and solid particles were not observed in the DT3.1 aerosol, in contrast to their presence in 1R6F cigarette smoke. The emission levels of three combustion-related molecules (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen oxides) in the DT3.1 aerosol were > 99 % lower than those in 1R6F cigarette smoke, and 31 selected constituents were not increased in the presence of oxygen. Collectively these findings shows that the inhalable nicotine-containing aerosol formed during DT3.1 use is generated by thermal evaporation, distillation, and torrefaction under heating. This process eliminates combustion and restricts thermal conversion, which occur in combustible tobacco products. Furthermore, the absence of tobacco combustion in eHTPs is proposed to contribute to the reduction of harmful and potentially harmful constituents and the potential reduced risk profile of such products.