Smokeless Tobacco - new study expands list of hazardous chemicals..

December 6, 2009 - We reported on this same study when the work was presented at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in August 2009.

Smokeless Tobacco - new study expands list of hazardous chemicals..

PAPER: Analysis of 23 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Smokeless Tobacco by Gas Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry, Irina Stepanov, Peter W. Villalta, Aleksandar Knezevich, Joni Jensen, Dorothy Hatsukami and Stephen S. Hecht, Chem. Res. Toxicol., Articles ASAP (As Soon As Publishable) Publication Date (Web): October 27, 2009, ABSTRACT..

Moist snuff, a form of smokeless tobacco, also consists astonishingly high levels of toxic and carcinogenic substances, a new American study. Researchers in Minnesota discovered that moist snuff is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that may cause cancer.

Irina Stepanov and colleagues found that the use of moist snuff surged nearly 80 times between 1986-2003, partly due to the belief that it is safer than smoking cigarettes. However, smokeless tobacco can cause precancerous oral lesions and oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer.

The team examined the PAHs in 23 moist snuff samples from the most popular American brands. They found 23 different PAHs in the samples out of which 9 were carcinogens.

Thus, it was established that PAHs are one of largest groups of cancer-causing substances in moist snuff. The findings render PAHs one of the most prevalent groups of carcinogens in smokeless tobacco.
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The scientists write: "Urgent measures are required from the U.S. tobacco industry to modify manufacturing processes so that the levels of these toxicants and carcinogens in U.S. moist snuff are greatly reduced."

Reference: New study reveals smokeless tobacco products contain high levels of cancer-causing substances, Source: American Chemical Society, Medical News, 12/3/2009.