Use of tobacco other than the purpose of smoking is known as smokeless tobacco. Some of the types of this tobacco usage are chewing, dipping, snuff, snus, gutka, dissoluble tobacco, tobacco water, topical tobacco paste, tobacco gum and creamy snuff. There are 28 cancer causing agents in the chemicals of this tobacco. The primary stimulant in these types of smokeless tobacco is the nicotine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.5 percent adults consume the smokeless tobacco products in America, mostly in the form of chewing and snuff. It is a myth that smokeless tobacco are harmful or relative less harmful when compared to cigarettes.
Some Harmful Chemicals Found in Smokeless Tobacco
Nitrosamines: 90 percent of these chemical compounds are carcinogenic and organ specific cancers like liver, gastric and esophageal cancers.
Polonium 210: This radioactive substance is found in the urine and blood of the smokers and is responsible for causing cancer in organs like the liver, bladder and stomach along with leukemia.
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons: These are a group of 9 cancer causing agents and the exposure to them before birth, can cause depression and anxiety in a child after birth.
(S)-N’-nitrosonornicotine: In April 2012, researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis confirmed this chemical to be solely responsible for causing oral cancer.
Cotinine: Another research study conducted this year at the Laboratory of Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan has found that cotinine helps in the growth of tumor in the lungs by helping the growth of cancer cells and stopping the natural process of old cell deaths.
Slaked Lime: Its excess exposure lead to lung damage, blindness, skin irritation and chemical burns.
Sodium Carbonate: Its harmful effects are lung irritation, toxicity to the eyes, skin and upper respiratory tract.
Sodium Bicarbonate: Undesirable reactions caused by this chemical are hypertension, heart failure, increased pH levels in the tissue, formation of pus or edema, Hyperosmolar syndrome – an emergency condition where the levels of glucose in the blood is very high, Hypernatremia – increased levels of sodium in the blood, kidney stone formation and kidney failure.
Areca Nut: The International Agency for cancer has confirmed it to be a carcinogen. Lower birth weight and premature delivery are some of the health effects of consuming smokeless tobacco containing areca nut during pregnancy.
Paraffin: The American Cancer Society has found that this petroleum by-product exposure causes lung ailments.
Apart from increasing the risk of oral cancer, these chemicals also cause nicotine addiction and reproductive health issues. Also, researchers from the Boffetta at International Agency for Research on Cancer in France found that the consumption of smokeless tobacco products caused 0.5 percent of all heart attacks and 1.7 percent of all strokes related deaths in the United States. Most of the people losing their lives owing to this bad habit are below the age of 40.
Global & Health Impact Data on Smokeless Tobacco Use
| Category | Key Data / Fact | Region / Source | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Usage | Over 356 million people use smokeless tobacco products | WHO Global Report on Trends in Tobacco Use (2021) | Widespread public health concern, especially in South Asia |
| Top Consuming Countries | India (199M users), Bangladesh (22M), Myanmar (9M) | WHO SEARO Region | Linked to high oral cancer and cardiovascular disease burden |
| Oral Cancer Attribution | More than 80% of oral cancer cases in India are due to smokeless tobacco | Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) | Massive strain on healthcare system and early-age mortality |
| Economic Cost | $10–15 billion in lost productivity annually | Global Burden of Disease Study (2019) | Lost workdays, early deaths, long-term treatment costs |
| Youth Initiation Age | Majority of users begin before age 18 | Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) | Higher addiction potential and prolonged exposure |
| Nicotine Levels | Smokeless tobacco can deliver 3–4x more nicotine than cigarettes | National Cancer Institute (USA) | Greater dependency, harder withdrawal process |
| Gender Disparity | Men are 5–10 times more likely to use smokeless tobacco | CDC & WHO Regional Reports | Gender-targeted health campaigns needed |
| Legislative Impact | Countries with graphic health warnings show 20%+ reduction in youth initiation | Tobacco Free Initiative, WHO | Evidence that awareness campaigns and policy work |
Conclusion
Awareness of these health risks, especially among young people, and strict laws against tobacco products can act as effective deterrents and bring down the consumption of these dreadful substances by the general population.
