South Korean government discloses carcinogens in 465 tobacco products

The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have released the first official results of harmful substance testing for 465 tobacco products sold domestically. This disclosure follows the implementation of the Tobacco Harmful Substance Management Act last November.

The testing covered 256 conventional cigarettes, 104 heated tobacco products, and 105 liquid e-cigarettes. All 256 conventional cigarettes contained nicotine, tar, and Group 1 carcinogens such as formaldehyde, benzene, cadmium, and benzopyrene. Among heated tobacco products, formaldehyde was detected in every product tested, along with tobacco-specific nitrosamines NNN and NNK.

In liquid e-cigarettes, formaldehyde was detected in 99 out of 105 products. The government cautioned consumers against comparing products based solely on the amount of detected substances, noting that different heating and combustion methods make direct comparisons difficult. Officials emphasized that lower detected levels do not necessarily mean a product is less harmful, as health risks depend on complex exposure, usage patterns, and duration.

The government plans to monitor advertisements that might mislead consumers into believing certain products are safer. Additionally, testing for synthetic nicotine products is scheduled to begin in 2027.