Objective-To examine the effects of four brands of commercially available m
oist snuff and non-tobacco mint "snuff" on plasma nicotine concentration, h
eart rate, blood pressure, and subjective measures.
Intervention-Four brands of moist snuff and a non-tobacco mint snuff were t
ested. Subjects reported to the laboratory for five experimental sessions.
After baseline measurement of dependent variables, each subject placed 2 g
of one of the brands of snuff (or one Skoal Bandits pouch) between the chee
k and gum for 30 minutes. The subjects remained in the experimental laborat
ory for an additional 60 minutes.
Subjects-Ten volunteers who were daily users of smokeless tobacco.
Main outcome measures-Plasma nicotine concentration, cardiovascular effects
, and subjective effects.
Results-Large amounts of nicotine were delivered rapidly to the bloodstream
. The amount of nicotine absorbed and the rate of absorption were related t
o the pH of the snuff product in aqueous suspension. Cardiovascular and sub
jective effects were related to me amount of nicotine absorbed.
Conclusions-Snuff products are capable of rapidly delivering high doses of
nicotine, which can lead to dependence. Long-term use of snuff can lead to
a number of adverse health effects including oral cancers, cardiovascular d
iseases, and gingival diseases. For these reasons, it is important that the
public health community considers oral snuff use as a burden on public hea
lth in the same way that cigarette smoking is recognised.