What is found in spit tobacco?
• Nicotine Nicotine is the main ingredient in spit tobacco. The amount of nicotine in one dip, or chew, of spit tobacco can deliver up to 5 times the amount found in one cigarette. Nicotine is addictive. • Carcinogens A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. Spit tobacco contains 28 known carcinogens. These include formaldehyde, arsenic, cyanide, nickel, and polonium-210. • Sodium Spit tobacco contains high concentrations of salt, which contributes to high blood pressure. Users have a higher risk of heart disease, hypertension, and heart attacks. • Sugar Spit tobacco users are at increased risk for cavities due to the amount of sugar added to spit tobacco products during processing. Spit Tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. Possible health harms include: • gum disease • cavities • leukoplakia (white patches and oral lesions which can lead to oral cancer) • yellow or brown stained teeth • oral, throat, stomach and pancreatic cancer Pictured above is Gruen von Behrens. He
