Dr. Vijayndhran Balakrishnan, Scientific Engagement Manager at Philip Morris Malaysia, has highlighted that transitioning to smoke-free alternatives can reduce user exposure to harmful toxicants by up to 99%. Speaking at the Sarawak’s Illicit Trade Programme on April 25, he emphasized that eliminating tobacco combustion is the critical factor in preventing the release of thousands of disease-causing chemicals.
The primary driver of smoking-related harm is the burning process itself. When a conventional cigarette is lit, the resulting combustion generates smoke containing more than 6,000 chemicals, including hundreds of known carcinogens and toxic substances.
By removing combustion from the equation, smoke-free alternatives drastically lower the levels of harmful constituents. Dr. Balakrishnan detailed how different categories of smoke-free products achieve this harm reduction:
- Heated Tobacco Products: These devices heat actual tobacco to release nicotine without ever burning the plant material.
- E-vapor or E-cigarettes: These products contain no tobacco; instead, they vaporize nicotine in a liquid form.
- Oral Nicotine Products: These deliver nicotine through pouches placed directly in the mouth, entirely bypassing any heating or combustion process. This category shows the highest toxicant reduction, reaching up to 99%.
While stressing that these alternatives are not entirely risk-free, Dr. Balakrishnan noted that scientific assessments and global regulatory reviews consistently demonstrate a substantial decrease in harmful emissions when compared to traditional cigarettes.
These findings bolster the ongoing global discourse around tobacco harm reduction. For adult smokers who are either unable or unwilling to quit nicotine entirely, smoke-free products represent a significantly less harmful alternative to continued smoking.
Dr. Balakrishnan presented these insights at the “Sarawak’s Illicit Trade: Drivers, Risks & The Cost of Prohibition Programme” at the Hilton Hotel, organized by DayakDaily. The event also featured prominent experts, including representatives from the Sarawak Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and UKM Medical Centre.
On April 25, 2026, the “Sarawak’s Illicit Trade: Drivers, Risks & the Cost of Prohibition” programme was held in Kuching, organized by DayakDaily, highlighting the state’s ongoing battle against smuggling and unregulated products.
