Science

Knowledge Library

We believe that a better future is only possible if we provide the necessary information for people to make informed decisions.

Our commitment to transparency

Our scientific research, assessments, and information are made available and accessible to all—consumers, regulators, and the scientific community alike. This work is also presented at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Our commitment to consumer choice remains unwavering, as does our dedication to consistently meeting stringent quality and regulatory standards.

The creation of products and experiences that surpass expectations begins with listening—understanding how to deliver more satisfying moments. Experts then harness their creativity, transforming research and testing into high-quality offerings. Rigorous testing follows, ensuring these products meet the standards required to reach consumers.

Discover

Our discovery phase is powered by creativity and collaboration. From analyzing tobacco seeds to nicotine technology and new ingredients, our experts seek out the answers to key questions: Does this product or feature reduce the level of harmful or potentially harmful chemicals? How is the taste? Most importantly, will it create fulfilling moments and contribute to a more sustainable future?

Design

Taking an idea from prototype to product, we need to ensure the right elements are in place to move ahead. This is known as “manufacturing-stage readiness.” We then review and test all design and technical requirements, making sure our product integrity is never compromised.

Deliver

We set the highest quality standards. This means we continuously perform rigorous scientific assessments that examine not only what goes into a product, but what comes out of it. It’s how we build credibility in our products and brands, ensuring they reach the expectations of adult tobacco users. We also examine the impact of our products after use, to understand how we can improve their circularity. This helps us close the loop – from tobacco seed to high-quality product to disposal and re-use.

How Ploom X delivers informed choices

Science brings clarity

At JTI, we understand that today’s modern adult tobacco users demand more than just products — they seek transparency. They want clear, science-backed answers about how reduced-risk products (RRPs) differ from traditional smoking, and the innovations that make those differences possible.

THE CHALLENGE

Answering the call for clarity

The landscape is shifting. Today’s adult tobacco users are informed, discerning, and expect transparency.
They want to know the facts: What makes RRPs different?
How do they work?
And what role does science play in ensuring credibility?

THE SOLUTION

Building trust through rigorous testing

Enter Ploom X — our flagship RRP, designed with science at its core. Every claim we make about Ploom X is backed by robust scientific testing. From analyzing harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) to assessing indoor air quality and staining, we’ve left no stone unturned to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Our research shows that Ploom X offers a significant reduction in key toxic substances. Compared to traditional smoking, Ploom X achieves a 90-95% reduction on average in nine harmful substances. Beyond that, it’s been engineered to have a smaller impact on indoor air quality, reducing smell on clothes, hair, and breath—helping users feel fresher and more confident in their daily lives.
While these advancements make a meaningful difference, we remain transparent: no tobacco product is risk-free. Ploom X does not eliminate health or addiction risks associated with tobacco use. But through clear communication, grounded in science, we aim to give adult users the information they need to make informed choices.

Redefining indoor air quality

How science powers progress in reduced-risk products

Science at JTI is about more than innovation – it’s about creating real-world experiences that make a difference. When it comes to indoor air quality (IAQ), our commitment to research and development helps us deliver products with a lower impact.
It’s how we create a more comfortable and fulfilling experience for adult tobacco users and those around them.

THE CHALLENGE

Understanding and improving Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality matters. For decades, we’ve studied the effects of environmental tobacco smoke, analyzing everything from temperature and humidity to airflow and the concentration of substances in the air. Why? Because these factors don’t just influence comfort—they impact the environments we share. Our goal has always been clear: to better understand these effects and develop solutions that make a meaningful difference.

THE SOLUTION

Making IAQ central to our RRP innovations

Our Reduced-Risk Products (RRPs) are engineered with indoor air quality in mind. Backed by robust research, these products are designed to significantly lower their impact on IAQ compared to traditional cigarettes. From innovative mechanical features to advanced aerosol technology, every detail is optimized to reduce harmful emissions, ensuring a better indoor environment for both users and non-users.

The science speaks for itself. Compared to traditional cigarette smoke, our RRPs achieve a 90-95% reduction on average in nine toxic substances, including harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs). The result? A lower impact on air quality, less smell on clothing, hair, and breath, and a more pleasant environment overall. While no tobacco product is risk-free, these advancements underscore our commitment to delivering products that better align with the needs and expectations of today’s consumers.

Breaking new ground

How organ on a chip technology redefines tobacco product testing

At JTI, science fuels progress. As we work to deliver fulfilling moments while shaping a better future, we continually seek innovative solutions that improve how we research and develop our products. Our use of organ-on-a-chip technology is a prime example of science at its best—driving change, enhancing understanding, and embracing ethical advancements.

THE CHALLENGE

Overcoming the Limits of Traditional Testing

Traditional respiratory testing has relied on animal studies, such as testing on rats, to assess the impact of tobacco products. But this approach has clear limitations: it doesn’t fully replicate the complexity of the human respiratory system, nor does it align with modern ethical standards. To better understand airway inflammation and other respiratory effects, a new approach was needed—one that moves beyond the constraints of conventional methods.

THE SOLUTION

Mimicking the structure and functionality of the human airway

Organ-on-a-chip is a groundbreaking technology that uses three-dimensional human bronchial tissue cultures to model the effects of aerosol exposure on the respiratory system. By mimicking the structure and functionality of the human airway, this technology allows researchers to better understand how aerosols from tobacco products interact with the respiratory system. It’s science that brings us closer to human reality, offering more meaningful insights while moving away from reliance on animal testing. The technology has gained traction as a cutting-edge tool for pre-clinical studies in recent years. Providing highly detailed insights into mechanisms of action makes it an invaluable resource for advancing our understanding of respiratory health. Even more importantly, it offers the potential to provide an alternative to animal testing, helping us align with growing consumer and societal expectations for ethical research practices.

A future driven by ethical innovation

For us, science is more than a tool—it’s a responsibility. Through technologies like organ-on-a-chip, we’re reshaping how we approach research and product development. By embracing innovation, we’re not only improving the quality of our insights but also taking meaningful steps toward a more ethical and sustainable future.

Relevant key science documents

2024

Knowledge Library

Our commitment to transparency

Discover

Design

Deliver

How Ploom X delivers informed choices

Science brings clarity

Answering the call for clarity

Building trust through rigorous testing

Redefining indoor air quality

How science powers progress in reduced-risk products

Understanding and improving Indoor air quality

Making IAQ central to our RRP innovations

Breaking new ground

How organ on a chip technology redefines tobacco product testing

Overcoming the Limits of Traditional Testing

Mimicking the structure and functionality of the human airway

A future driven by ethical innovation

Relevant key science documents

Characterization of the nicotine uptake and safety of Nordic spirit tobacco‑free oral nicotine pouches: A randomized cross‑over study

Renard, K., Nishihara, D., Nilsson, J. et al.

High-throughput Bronchus-on-a-Chip system for modeling the human bronchus

Mori, A., Vermeer, M., van den Broek, L.J. et al.

Association between use of heated tobacco products and long-term respiratory effects considering smoking history: internet-based cross-sectional study in Japan

Kimura, Y., Sugita, M.

Development of an open-source high throughput QSAR-parameterized PBTK prediction model workflow using httk, OPERA and the KNIME Analytics Platform

Mucs, D., Borrel, A., Auman, T., Hirata, T., Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Evaluation of comprehensive read-across assessment of compounds with limited toxicological data using in silico tools

Hirata, T., Gafner, J., Mucs, D., Ito, S., Matsumura, K., Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Assessment of the Nicotine Pharmacokinetics When Using Two Types of E-Cigarettes in Healthy Adults Who Smoke: Results From Two Randomized, Crossover Studies

Yuki, D., Giles, L., Larroque, S., Harbo, S., Hemsley, A., Martinez, J.

Innovation backed by science - Tobacco harm reduction as a consumer choice

O’Connell, G.

Risk Perception of Tobacco and Nicotine Products: Which Consumer Reported Outcome Measures for Evidence Generation in Support of Regulatory Engagement?

Mainy, N., Przydzial, K.1, Cleanthous, S.1, Bajec, M.2, Salzberger, T.3, Cano, S.1

Tobacco Product Experience: Which Consumer Reported Outcome Measures for Real World Evidence Studies?

Mainy, N., Bajec, M.1, Alves Favaro, M.2, Salzberger, T.3, Rose, J.4

RNA sequencing analysis of early-stage atherosclerosis in vascular-on-a-chip and its application for comparing combustible cigarettes with heated tobacco products

Ohashi, K., Hayashida, A., Nozawa, A., Ito, S

Toxicological Data Gap Filling of Ingredients; Comparison of Machine Learning Based Imputation and Traditional QSAR Methods

Whitehead, T. M.*, Strickland, J.*, Conduit, G. J.*, Borrel, A.**, Mucs, D., Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Comparison of Dimensionality Reduction Techniques for Chemical Space and Applicability Domain Determination of QSAR Model Training and Target Datasets

Urbina, F.*, Vignaux, P. A.*, Andersen, S.*, Mucs, D., Kanemaru, Y., Daikoku, A., Diaz-Fortier, N., Gafner, J., Hirata, T., Duarte, T., Neilson, L., Baskerville-Abraham, I., Ekins, S.*

Cheminformatics and data processing challenges in chemical grouping workflows for toxicological risk assessments

Hirn, C., Mucs, D., Buerger, A. N.*, Massarsky, A.*, Russel, A.*, Zoghby, N.*, Maier, A.*, Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Investigation on the biological effects of 3D reconstructed human airway tissue exposed at the air-liquid interface to aerosols generated from waterpipe tobacco blends with varying concentrations of cinnamaldehyde

Gafner, J., Lamboley, C., Vernaz, J.*, Constant, S.*, Neilson, L. *Epithelix

Selecting an Inhalation Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) through Chemical Space Visualization

Gafner, J., Kanemaru, Y., Mucs, D., Neilson, L., Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Exploring Allergen Identification Methods: Integrating in silico Approaches with Mass Spectrometry and Genome Sequence Data

Diaz-Fortier, N., Mucs, D., Hirata, T., Daikoku, A., Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Derivation of maximum acceptable group levels (MAGLs) for carvones in tobacco and nicotine products

Massarsky, A.*, Buerger, A.N.*, O’Neill, H.*, Gafner, J., Babcock, A., Neilson, L., Baskerville-Abraham, I., Maier, A.* *Stantec ChemRisk

Donor-to-donor variation of primary bronchial cells related to histology, tissue functions and responses to poly(I:C)

Ichikawa, S., Ishimori, K., Ito, S.

Adverse outcome pathway-based in vitro assessment of mucus hypersecretion in three-dimensionally cultured bronchial epithelial cells

Quantitative Adverse Outcome Pathway Analysis of Cigarette Smoke-induced Mucus Hypersecretion Using Bayesian Network Modeling

Ito, S., Erami, K., Ichikawa, S., Sano, K., Muratani, S., Mori, A., Matsumoto, R.

High-throughput phenotypic profiling of chemical mixtures derived from a heated tobacco product and a combustible cigarette

Watanabe, T., Oshiro, T., Takahashi, T., Takanami, Y.

In vitro toxicological evaluation of concentrated aerosol collected mass extracts from heated tobacco products with indirect heating system

Hashizume, T., Yamamoto, H., Ito, H., Fukushima, T., Otsu, Y.

Proof of concept for quantitative adverse outcome pathway modeling of chronic toxicity in repeated exposure

Ito, S., Mukherjee, S.*, Erami, K., Muratani, S., Mori, A., Ichikawa, S., White, W.*, Yoshino, K., Fallacara, D.* *Battelle

Data gap analysis and proposal for environmental chemical risk assessment of cigarette butts

Estévez, M.D., Sayers, K., Giles, L. Price, L.

NAMs AOPs-COPD II: in vitro assessment of mucus hypersecretion with quantitative AOP modeling (combination of 3D in vitro model and mathematical modeling for risk estimation)

Ito, S

Nicotine pharmacokinetics assessments of two types of e-cigarettes compared to conventional cigarettes: two randomized, crossover studies

Yuki, D., Giles, L., Harbo, S., Hemsley, A.

Nicotine Pharmacokinetics and Subjective Effects of Novel Heated Tobacco Product Compared to Conventional Cigarettes: A Randomized, Crossover Study

Yuki, D., Giles, L., Harbo, S., Hemsley, A.

Biomarkers Assessment in Healthy Adult Smokers Who Switched from Conventional Cigarettes to Closed Tank E-cigarette: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Yuki, D., Giles, L., Harbo, S., Hemsley, A.

Biomarkers Assessment in Healthy Adult Smokers Who Switched from Conventional Cigarettes to Two Types of Non-Combustible Tobacco Products: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Yuki, D., Giles, L., Harbo, S., Hemsley, A.

Identification of a novel mode of action of vanillin derivative compound veratraldehyde

Watanabe, T., Munakata, S., Takahashi, T., Hashizume, T.

Rapid and easy removal or purification of pyridine compounds by phenylboronic acid solid -phase extraction (PBA-SPE) cartridge for compound identification for non-targeted gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis of tobacco products

Shigeto, A.

Whitehead, T. M., Strickland, J., Conduit, G. J.*, Borrel, A.**, Mucs, D., Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Urbina, F., Vignaux, P. A., Andersen, S., Mucs, D., Kanemaru, Y., Daikoku, A., Diaz-Fortier, N., Gafner, J., Hirata, T., Duarte, T., Neilson, L., Baskerville-Abraham, I., Ekins, S.

Hirn, C., Mucs, D., Buerger, A. N., Massarsky, A., Russel, A., Zoghby, N., Maier, A.*, Baskerville-Abraham, I.

Gafner, J., Lamboley, C., Vernaz, J., Constant, S., Neilson, L. *Epithelix

Massarsky, A., Buerger, A.N., O’Neill, H., Gafner, J., Babcock, A., Neilson, L., Baskerville-Abraham, I., Maier, A. *Stantec ChemRisk

Ito, S., Mukherjee, S., Erami, K., Muratani, S., Mori, A., Ichikawa, S., White, W., Yoshino, K., Fallacara, D.* *Battelle

Mori, A., Vermeer, M., Ito, S., Strijker, W., Kramer, B., Nicolas, A., Ohashi, K., Matsumura, K., Muratani, S., Sekine, T.*Mimetas BV