Overview
- The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare research team published its assessment on Thursday and delivered the findings to the expert committee reviewing the 2020 Health Promotion Act.
- The review found that use of heated-tobacco products increases levels of harmful substances in surrounding indoor air, based on studies and measurements analyzed by the research team.
- The team concluded current data are limited and do not allow a firm determination that passive exposure to heated tobacco causes specific health harms.
- The assessment has been forwarded for policy discussion and is expected to prompt debate over whether to remove or tighten the special exemption that now allows heated-tobacco use and eating in designated smoking rooms.
- Rapid uptake of heated-tobacco devices—reported at about 40% of smokers—raises the risk of wider public exposure, which could affect restaurant workers, patrons, and the shape of further research and regulation.