title: Levels of toxins in oral tobacco products in the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the constituents of smokeless tobacco products available in the UK and compared them with products available in India, Sweden, and the USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven UK brands of smokeless tobacco, including a tooth cleaning powder, and four international brands of smokeless tobacco were tested for a range of toxins and known carcinogens, such as tobacco specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA), as well as nicotine availability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of the 11 brands tested had detectable levels of tobacco specific nitrosamines, which are proven carcinogens, and levels varied 130-fold. All had detectable levels of benzo(a)pyrene, another proven carcinogen (with around 175-fold variation) and several toxic metals (with nearly 150-fold variation). Nicotine availability varied in the UK products from 0.1 mg/g to 63.2 mg/g. All the tobacco products tested are likely to be hazardous to users' health, but the data indicate that it should be possible to reduce key toxins to non-detectable levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokeless tobacco products should be regulated and standards set for maximum levels of toxins and carcinogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Alkhatib
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000032:analysis; D001682:Biological Availability; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D009538:Nicotine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000737:chemistry*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009602:Nitrosamines; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D009538:Nicotine