"Herbal cigarettes, marketed as natural and tobacco-free, produce emissions that are comparably or more damaging than tobacco smoke."
A new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has found that herbal cigarettes are far from a safe alternative. The findings, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, reveal that these products may be just as harmful—if not more so—than traditional tobacco cigarettes.
Key Findings
Herbal cigarette smoke emitted approximately 20% higher concentrations of sub-500-nanometer particles than tobacco smoke. These fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs.
Particulate matter from herbal cigarettes had significantly higher oxidative potential (OP) than tobacco cigarettes, indicating a greater ability to generate reactive oxygen species, which are linked to a range of diseases.
One herbal cigarette brand, filled with basil, had the highest lead concentration despite being marketed as "chemical-free."
Tendu-leaf-wrapped herbal variants showed roughly 49% higher oxidative potential than paper-wrapped versions.
A Dangerous Regulatory Gap
The study highlights a critical oversight in current law. India's Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) regulates tobacco products but does not cover tobacco-free alternatives like herbal cigarettes. This regulatory gap is not unique to India; it exists in other countries as well.
The researchers recommend developing frameworks to regulate the marketing of tobacco alternatives, especially those using wellness-oriented language that may attract younger consumers.
Study Scope
The researchers compared emissions from two top-selling tobacco brands and four popular herbal cigarette brands available in India. It is important to note that the study does not make direct epidemiological claims about disease outcomes. Instead, it focuses on measurable properties of emitted smoke particles and their potential biological reactivity.