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Determination of
Nicotine, pH, and Moisture Content of Six U.S. Commercial Moist Snuff
Products—Florida, January-February 1999
MMWR Highlights
May 21, 1999 / Vol. 48 / No. 19
- Moist snuff products with low nicotine
content and pH levels (Hawken Wintergreen, Skoal Bandits Straight, and Skoal Bandits
Wintergreen) have a smaller proportion of unprotonated (free) nicotine. In contrast, moist
snuff products with high nicotine content and pH levels (Copenhagen Snuff, Skoal Long Cut
Wintergreen, and Kodiak Wintergreen) have a higher proportion of unprotonated (free)
nicotine.
- The pH level in moist snuff products
varied from a low of 5.24 (Hawken Wintergreen) to a high of 8.35 (Kodiak Wintergreen).
Increases in pH can increase the rate of absorption of nicotine from smokeless tobacco
through the mouth into the bloodstream. Studies with nicotine and other addictive drugs
suggest that the rate at which drugs are absorbed is an important determinant of their
addiction potential.
- The mean levels of unprotonated (free)
nicotine varied from 0.01 milligram/gram (Hawken Wintergreen) to 6.23 milligram/gram
(Copenhagen Snuff), while the percentage of unprotonated (free) nicotine varied from a low
of 0.23 percent (Hawken Wintergreen) to a high of 68.14 percent (Kodiak Wintergreen).
Unprotonated (free) nicotine is the chemical form of nicotine that is most readily
absorbed through the mouth into the bloodstream.
- The dose of nicotine that smokeless
tobacco users receive can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of nicotine,
altering the pH, and varying the size of the tobacco cuttings.
- Smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and
snuff) represents a significant health risk and is not a safe alternative to smoking. It
can cause oral cancer and leukoplakia, a precancerous lesion, as well as nicotine
addiction.
- On March 23, 1999, The Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) published a Federal Register notice requiring the
annual submission of the quantity of nicotine, total moisture, and pH contained in
smokeless tobacco products, manufactured, imported, or packaged in the U.S. as prescribed
under the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986 (CSTHEA/Public Law
99-252). DHHS will use the information to exercise its authority to conduct research on
the health effects of smokeless tobacco products.
Determination of
Nicotine, pH, and Moisture Content of Six U.S. Commercial Moist Snuff
Products — Florida, January-February 1999 48(19): 398-401, May 21, 1999
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