Smoking addicts all over the world are opting Snuff.Snuff is powdered tobacco finely grounded. It is a type of smokeless tobacco because there is no smoke involved in its consumption. In this way people standing close to smokeless tobacco sniffer are spared from the risks of passive smoking. This article tries to understand the health issues with dipping snuff.
What is Dipping Snuff?
There are two ways in which Snuff is taken. They are :
Nasal Snuff: Nasal Snuff is taken from the tin box in the form of a pinch between our forefinger and thumb. It is brought near our left nostril and taken in by a sharp sniff.Inhaling the snuff gently gives the enjoyment. However,there may be a sensation of sniffing it out. That is why many people prefer to take the dipping snuff or moist snuff.
Dipping Snuff: Here the snuff is placed between the gum and the lower lip in the oral cavity.
Health Issues:
- There are conflicting results that moist snuff can lead to mouth cancer.
- Moist snuff users according to a recent study are exposed to NNK more than smokers. NNK is an organic compound and is considered a potent procarcinogen.
- The effects of moist snuff on the cardiovascular system is still studied and is mostly inconclusive.Further research should be done to understand the cardiovascular risks associated with moist snuff.
- Nicotine, the primary addictive element is present in the tobacco with which the snuff is prepared.
- There are reports which site that glass is also added in to the making of dipping snuff to cause abrasion to the lip.It leads to the absorption of nicotine faster.
- It is nicotine which ensures the snuff user remains addicted to snuff.
What is Herbal moist snuff?
Herbal moist snuff is a moist snuff free from tobacco and hence nicotine.It is a faux tobacco products made from herbal plants and substances. Herbal moist snuff is different from the moist snuff because it is fire-cured instead of steam-cure. Moreover,one should spit the snuff out.
Though the health world is not unanimous about the risks associated with dipping snuff, the users of it have a definite alternative to quit it in the form of Herbal moist snuff.
1 Comment
Nasal snuff (English styles at least) has been in constant documented use for about 400 years with no associated cancers at all, even anecdotal. While there have not been enough recent scientific studies done to conclusively make the claim that it is ‘safe’, I think it is reasonable to say that nasal snuff is at least ‘safer’ than smoking.
Harm mitigation is a valuable goal in itself. Nicotine itself seems to be addictive but relatively harmless (akin to caffeine). Wikipedia is a good source of info on this.
I challenge you to find any evidence (links would be good) to demonstrate that Nasal Snuff (not oral or dipping snuff) is dangerous.
Here is statement published in the Lancet, the leading medical journal in the UK:
“Switching from cigarettes to snuff could have enormous health benefits. Although some problems could arise from continued absorption of nicotine and local nasal irritation in heavy users, the absence of tar and gases such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and many other toxic combustion products, would virtually eliminate smoking-related cancer, bronchitis, and possibly heart disease. Also, snuff does not contaminate the atmosphere for non-users. Our findings suggest that a new age for snuff is a feasible alternative to cigarette smoking. Snuff could save more lives and avoid more ill-health than any other preventive measure likely to be available to developed nations well into the 21st century.”
Lancet.1980 Mar 1;1(8166):474-5.; (UK Medical Journal) Click here for the full article.
best regards,
David