title: High levels of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines and nicotine in Chaini Khaini, a product marketed as snus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, a tobacco product, Chaini Khaini, identified as snus appeared in India. The product marketing emphasises its discreet nature and explicitly claims safety by referring to the existing evidence on Swedish snus. We analysed tobacco-specific nitrosamines and nicotine in 12 samples of Chaini Khaini purchased in 2013 at open markets in India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were purchased twice: in March 2013 from Mumbai and in November 2013 from Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Chemical constituents were measured by our routine validated methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of carcinogenic nitrosamines NNN, NNK and NNAL averaged 22.9 (±4.9), 2.6 (±1.0) and 3.1 (±1.5) µg/g tobacco (wet weight), respectively. The levels of NAB, which is normally present in trace levels in tobacco products, ranged from 3.9 to 12.9 µg/g tobacco. Total nicotine levels in all samples averaged 10.0 mg/g tobacco and unprotonated nicotine accounted for an average 95.4% of the total nicotine content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chaini Khaini, which is labelled as snus and is marketed as a safe alternative to other tobacco products contains very high levels of carcinogenic nitrosamines and biologically available nicotine. Interventions are urgently needed to educate current and potential consumers of this product.
authors.affiliation: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stepanov
authors.affiliation: Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Prakash C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Gauri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dhumal
authors.affiliation: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yershova
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.affiliation: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatsukami
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parascandola
mesh_terms: D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009602:Nitrosamines; D009538:Nicotine; C008655:N'-nitrosonornicotine
keywords: Carcinogens; Harm Reduction; Nicotine; Packaging and Labelling