title: The acrylamide content of smokeless tobacco products.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is considerable interest from a regulatory and public health perspective in harmful and potentially harmful constituents in tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco products (STPs). A wide range of commercial STPs from the US and Sweden, representing 80-90 % of the 2010 market share for all the major STP categories in these two countries, were analysed for the IARC Group 2A carcinogen acrylamide. These STPs comprised the following styles: Swedish loose and portion snus, US snus, chewing tobacco, moist snuff, dry snuff, soft pellet, hard pellet and plug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acrylamide was detected in all the products tested and quantified in all but one product. Concentrations ranged from 62 to 666 ng/g wet weight basis (WWB). The average levels of acrylamide (WWB) by type of STP were not significantly different (p > 0.05) except for US snus which had, on average, greater levels but with a very wide range of individual levels according to the manufacturer. Acrylamide levels in STPs were significantly and positively correlated with pH, but not with levels of either reducing sugars or ammonia nitrogen. Levels of acrylamide increased by sixfold or more (on a dry weight basis) during manufacture of a snus sample and then decreased during subsequent storage for up to 22 weeks. Acrylamide generation in tobacco generally appears to occur at lower temperatures, but longer time scales than found with food production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acrylamide is a common contaminant of STPs, formed through heat treatment of tobacco. Our data show that exposure to acrylamide from consumption of STPs is small compared with exposure from food consumption or cigarette smoking.
authors.affiliation: Group Research and Development, British American Tobacco, Regents Park Road, Southampton, SO15 8TL UK.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McAdam
authors.affiliation: Group Research and Development, British American Tobacco, Regents Park Road, Southampton, SO15 8TL UK.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimpton
authors.affiliation: Group Research and Development, British American Tobacco, Regents Park Road, Southampton, SO15 8TL UK.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vas
authors.affiliation: Group Research and Development, British American Tobacco, Regents Park Road, Southampton, SO15 8TL UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rushforth
authors.affiliation: 3810 St. Antoine W., Montreal, QC H4C 1B4 Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, 505 South Hancock Street, Louisville, KY 40202 USA.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodu
keywords: Acrylamide; Smokeless tobacco products; Snuff; Snus