Article Text
Abstract
Objective: This study examined the constituents of smokeless tobacco products available in the UK and compared them with products available in India, Sweden, and the USA
Methods: Seven UK brands of smokeless tobacco, including a tooth cleaning powder, and four international brands of smokeless tobacco were tested for a range of toxins and known carcinogens, such as tobacco specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA), as well as nicotine availability.
Results: Ten of the 11 brands tested had detectable levels of tobacco specific nitrosamines, which are proven carcinogens, and levels varied 130-fold. All had detectable levels of benzo(a)pyrene, another proven carcinogen (with around 175-fold variation) and several toxic metals (with nearly 150-fold variation). Nicotine availability varied in the UK products from 0.1 mg/g to 63.2 mg/g. All the tobacco products tested are likely to be hazardous to users’ health, but the data indicate that it should be possible to reduce key toxins to non-detectable levels.
Conclusions: Smokeless tobacco products should be regulated and standards set for maximum levels of toxins and carcinogens.
- BaP, benz(a) pyrene
- NAB, N-nitrosoanabasine
- NAT, N-nitrosoanatabine
- NDMA, N-nitrosodimethylamine
- NNK, 4(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)–butanone
- NNN, N-nitrosonornicotine
- TSNA, tobacco specific nitrosamine
- smokeless tobacco
- tobacco toxins
- transcultural tobacco products
- toxin standards