Smokeless tobacco

Introduction and Types of Smokeless Tobacco

• Smokeless tobacco is a tobacco product used by means other than smoking, such as chewing or placing it between the gum and cheek or lip.
• Smokeless tobacco products include chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, and dissolvable tobacco products.
• Different forms of smokeless tobacco have different methods of use and characteristics.
• Manufacturing methods and ingredients vary, resulting in different chemical arrangements and nicotine levels.
• Smokeless tobacco products typically contain over 3000 constituents that contribute to their taste and scent.

Health Risks and Safety of Smokeless Tobacco

• Smokeless tobacco is lower on the risk continuum than combusted products but still varies in risk.
• Adverse effects of smokeless tobacco include dental disease, oral cancer, esophagus cancer, pancreas cancer, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight.
• Smokeless tobacco products contain cancer-causing chemicals, with nitrosamine being the most prominent.
• Adverse effects of smokeless tobacco include dental disease, various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and reproductive system deformities.
• Smokeless tobacco use raises the risk of non-fatal ischaemic heart disease in Asia.
• The safety risk of smokeless tobacco is similar to that of electronic cigarettes, which have significantly lower mortality risk than traditional cigarettes.

Nicotine Levels in Smokeless Tobacco

• Nicotine levels in smokeless tobacco products vary based on the type of product, types of tobacco used, and the amount of each tobacco type used.
• Nicotine absorption by the body depends on the pH level of the product.
• Free nicotine and unionized nicotine levels affect nicotine absorption.
• Measured nicotine levels in various smokeless tobacco products range from 2.92 mg/g to 23.13 mg/g.
• Free nicotine levels in these products range from 0.01 mg/g to 6.81 mg/g.

Public Perception and Use of Smokeless Tobacco

• Many individuals addicted to nicotine from smokeless tobacco use also expand their tobacco use by smoking cigarettes.
• Males are more likely than females to have used smokeless tobacco in the past month.
• Smokeless tobacco use is prevalent globally.
• Public perception of smokeless tobacco products varies across different regions and cultures.
• Education and awareness campaigns are important in addressing the use and risks of smokeless tobacco.

Prevalence and Effects on Health

• Over 300 million people worldwide use smokeless tobacco.
• Smokeless tobacco use is prevalent in regions such as India, Pakistan, other Asian countries, and North America.
• Many young people who use smokeless tobacco also become cigarette smokers.
• Smokeless tobacco use is a significant part of the overall world tobacco problem.
• Using any kind of smokeless tobacco is a major health risk, although it is less lethal than smoking.
• All tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, are harmful and cause cancer.
• The risks associated with smokeless tobacco products can vary due to differing levels of nicotine, carcinogens, and toxins.
• Quitting smokeless tobacco use is as challenging as quitting smoking.

Smokeless tobacco Mentions

Smokeless tobacco Data Sources