Chewing Tobacco

1. What is chewing tobacco?

Chewing tobacco is one type of smokeless tobacco. It is available in loose leaf, plug (plug-firm and plug-moist), or twist forms. The user puts a chunk of tobacco inside the cheek. The other common form of
smokeless tobacco is called snuff. It is finely ground or shredded tobacco. It is packaged as dry, moist, or in sachets (tea bag-like pouches). Usually, the user places a pinch between the cheek and gum.

2. What harmful chemicals are found in chewing tobacco?
All tobacco, products contain nicotine, which is addictive. The amount of nicotine absorbed from chewing tobacco is 3 to 4 times higher them with a cigarette.

• Chewing tobacco and snuff contain approximately 28 cancer-causing agents. The most harmful carcinogens in smokeless tobacco are the tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).

• Other cancer-causing substances in chewing tobacco include N-nitrosamino acids, volatile N-nitrosamines, benzo(a)pyrene, volatile aldehydes, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, hydrazine,arsenic, nickel, cadmium, benzopyrene, and polonium-210.

3. What cancers are related to chewing tobacco use?
Using chewing tobacco increase a person’s risk for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. Oral cancer can include cancer of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor and roof of the mouth. People who use oral snuff for a long time have a much greater risk for cancer of the cheek and gum than people who do not use smokeless tobacco products.

I personally think chewing tobacco is DISGUSTING, never tried it and never will!