Estimation of nicotine content in popular Indian brands of smoking and chewing tobacco products.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the nicotine content of some popular Indian brands of smoking tobacco (cigarettes and bidis) and pan masalas (chewable tobacco).


METHODS
Commercially available cigarettes, bidis, and pan masalas (chewable tobacco) were obtained from local retail outlets for the study. Nicotine was estimated using gas-liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
The analyses showed relatively higher levels of nicotine in tobacco from bidis (26.9 mg gm) as compared to cigarettes(15 mg/gm); the difference is statistically significant ( P P > 0.01). Nicotine concentration in chewing tobacco was 3.4 mg/gm.


CONCLUSIONS
The study concludes that the nicotine content of Indian brands of smoking tobacco was slightly high compared to other international brands. Higher concentration of nicotine was found in bidis compared to cigarettes. The nicotine content in commercially available chewing tobacco products was found to be much lower than in the smoking form of tobacco, but the average daily consumption made it comparable to the smoking form.
Reddy
Sujatha S
SS
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, MS Ramaiah Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. s_sujathajanardhan@yahoo.com
Shaik
Hyder Ali K H
HA
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis*; D011356:Product Labeling; D014026:Nicotiana
D009538:Nicotine