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Rachel V Thomas

Herbal Cigarettes Not Safe, Found High In Fine Particles And Lead: Study

Do you smoke <span>herbal cigarettes</span> believing they are “natural”, “chemical-free”, and “tobacco-free”? You may be mistaken. New research, ahead of <span>World No Tobacco Day 2026</span>, has raised concerns over the growing popularity of <span>herbal</span> cigarettes, suggesting that herbal cigarettes are not safer than conventional cigarettes and may be equally harmful to health.

The new joint study by the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), US, has found that herbal cigarettes can produce emissions comparable to — and in some cases more harmful than — those generated by <span>tobacco cigarettes</span>.

The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, highlight significant health concerns surrounding herbal smoking products, many of which currently fall outside India’s primary tobacco control laws.

<h2>Leaf-wrapped Herbal cigarette Most Hazardous </h2>

The study compared emissions from two of India’s best-selling tobacco cigarette brands and four popular herbal cigarette varieties containing ingredients such as basil, clove, cinnamon, mint, green tea, water lily, and chamomile.

Two of the herbal products also used <span>tendu</span> (ebony) leaves as wrappers — the same material commonly used in bidis, India’s most consumed smoking product.

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/global-temperatures-likely-to-stay-near-record-levels-for-next-five-years-wmo-article-154425085" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Temperatures Likely To Stay Near Record Levels For Next Five Years: WMO</a>

Researchers analyzed the physical, chemical, and oxidative properties of mainstream smoke generated from the products. According to the study, herbal cigarette smoke released extremely fine particles and toxic compounds at levels similar to or exceeding those found in tobacco smoke.

“Our findings challenge the widely held belief that tobacco-free means risk-free. <span>Emissions from herbal cigarettes</span> are comparable to or exceed those from tobacco cigarettes on nearly every metric we measured. Leaf-wrapped herbal variants turned out to be the most hazardous of all the samples tested,” said Prof. Sameer Patel, Assistant Professor at IITGN’s Department of Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering.

<h2>Fine Particles And Oxidative Stress</h2>

Further, the researchers combusted each cigarette inside a sealed automated two-chamber system designed to mimic human inhalation patterns, to decode particle size, chemical composition, and oxidative potential.

Shockingly, the team found that particles smaller than 500 nanometers — associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases — were emitted at nearly 20 per cent higher concentrations in herbal cigarette smoke compared to tobacco smoke.  

The study also measured the “oxidative potential” (OP) of smoke particles — a marker of their ability to generate reactive oxygen species that contribute to inflammation, lung damage, and vascular disease.

According to the researchers, particulate matter from herbal cigarettes showed significantly higher oxidative potential than tobacco cigarettes. Tendu-leaf-wrapped variants recorded OP levels nearly 49 per cent higher than paper-wrapped products.

Notably, one basil-filled herbal cigarette marketed as “100% natural” and “chemical-free” showed the highest lead concentration among all products tested.

Prof. Vishal Verma, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at UIUC and co-author of the study, said the results are particularly significant because many consumers believe nicotine-free products are less harmful.

“That finding is important because many consumers associate nicotine-free products with reduced harm,” he said.

<strong>Read More: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/can-sugary-drinks-cause-brain-aging-article-154410417" data-type="tilCustomLink">Can Sugary Drinks Cause Brain Aging?</a>

Researchers also pointed to regulatory loopholes surrounding herbal cigarettes. India’s Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, regulates tobacco products through health warnings, advertising restrictions, and public smoking rules. However, many products marketed as tobacco-free do not fall under the same regulatory framework.

Lead author Dr. Alok Kumar Thakur said several herbal cigarette brands claim therapeutic benefits, including relief from cough, anxiety, and sleep problems, despite limited scientific evidence on their safety.

“However, there is limited scientific evidence evaluating the emissions and toxicological impacts of these products,” he said.

The findings also align with the World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the theme, “Unmasking the appeal: countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.”

The researchers stressed the urgent need for evidence-based regulation and stricter oversight of alternative smoking products to prevent misleading health claims and protect public health.

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Do you smoke herbal cigarettes believing they are “natural”, “chemical-free”, and “tobacco-free”? You may be mistaken. New research, ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2026, has raised concerns over the growing popularity of herbal cigarettes, suggesting that herbal cigarettes are not safer than conventional cigarettes and may be equally harmful to health.The new joint study by the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), US, has found that herbal cigarettes can produce emissions comparable to — and in some cases more harmful than — those generated by tobacco cigarettes.The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, highlight significant health concerns surrounding herbal smoking products, many of which currently fall outside India’s primary tobacco control laws.Leaf-wrapped Herbal cigarette Most Hazardous The study compared emissions from two of India’s best-selling tobacco cigarette brands and four popular herbal cigarette varieties containing ingredients such as basil, clove, cinnamon, mint, green tea, water lily, and chamomile.Two of the herbal products also used tendu (ebony) leaves as wrappers — the same material commonly used in bidis, India’s most consumed smoking product.Also read: Global Temperatures Likely To Stay Near Record Levels For Next Five Years: WMOResearchers analyzed the physical, chemical, and oxidative properties of mainstream smoke generated from the products. According to the study, herbal cigarette smoke released extremely fine particles and toxic compounds at levels similar to or exceeding those found in tobacco smoke.“Our findings challenge the widely held belief that tobacco-free means risk-free. Emissions from herbal cigarettes are comparable to or exceed those from tobacco cigarettes on nearly every metric we measured. Leaf-wrapped herbal variants turned out to be the most hazardous of all the samples tested,” said Prof. Sameer Patel, Assistant Professor at IITGN’s Department of Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering.Fine Particles And Oxidative StressFurther, the researchers combusted each cigarette inside a sealed automated two-chamber system designed to mimic human inhalation patterns, to decode particle size, chemical composition, and oxidative potential.Shockingly, the team found that particles smaller than 500 nanometers — associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases — were emitted at nearly 20 per cent higher concentrations in herbal cigarette smoke compared to tobacco smoke.  The study also measured the “oxidative potential” (OP) of smoke particles — a marker of their ability to generate reactive oxygen species that contribute to inflammation, lung damage, and vascular disease.According to the researchers, particulate matter from herbal cigarettes showed significantly higher oxidative potential than tobacco cigarettes. Tendu-leaf-wrapped variants recorded OP levels nearly 49 per cent higher than paper-wrapped products.Notably, one basil-filled herbal cigarette marketed as “100% natural” and “chemical-free” showed the highest lead concentration among all products tested.Prof. Vishal Verma, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at UIUC and co-author of the study, said the results are particularly significant because many consumers believe nicotine-free products are less harmful.“That finding is important because many consumers associate nicotine-free products with reduced harm,” he said.Concerns Over Regulatory GapsRead More: Can Sugary Drinks Cause Brain Aging?Researchers also pointed to regulatory loopholes surrounding herbal cigarettes. India’s Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, regulates tobacco products through health warnings, advertising restrictions, and public smoking rules. However, many products marketed as tobacco-free do not fall under the same regulatory framework.Lead author Dr. Alok Kumar Thakur said several herbal cigarette brands claim therapeutic benefits, including relief from cough, anxiety, and sleep problems, despite limited scientific evidence on their safety.“However, there is limited scientific evidence evaluating the emissions and toxicological impacts of these products,” he said.The findings also align with the World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the theme, “Unmasking the appeal: countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.”The researchers stressed the urgent need for evidence-based regulation and stricter oversight of alternative smoking products to prevent misleading health claims and protect public health.

world no tobacco day 2026: why herbal cigarettes may not be harmless

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