Four tins of dipping tobacco: Skoal Straight, Skoal Long Cut Mint, Copenhagen Straight, and Copenhagen Long Cut.

Dipping tobacco, also known as moist snuff or spit tobacco, is a form of smokeless tobacco. It is commonly referred to as dip. The act of using it is called dipping. Dip is colloquially called "chew"; because of this, it is commonly confused with chewing tobacco. It is a version of the Swedish "snus" that was brought to America by Swedish immigrants in the 19th century.

Instead of literally chewing on tobacco, a small clump of dip is 'pinched' out of the tin and placed between the lower lip and the gums. The dip rests on the inside lining of the mouth usually for ten to thirty minutes. Nicotine is absorbed by the inferior or superior labial arteries.

Dip tobacco, unlike the Swedish variant snus, often causes the user to produce excess saliva while dipping. This is typically spat onto the ground or in a container, because swallowing can cause irritation to the esophagus, and induce nausea and vomiting. However, long-time users can swallow the tobacco-saliva with no ill effects. This is also called "gutting" it. Smokeless tobacco is sometimes used in the workplace by employees; especially if the employer does not provide many cigarette breaks, or, if the employee is constantly using both hands during work (which doesn't provide opportunities for cigarette smoking).

[edit] Cut sizes

The difference between cut sizes are the length of the strands of tobacco.

• Long cuts are easiest to pack and keep comfortably in the mouth.
• Mid cuts are comparable to small granules at about 1 mm cubed.
• Fine cuts are slightly larger than sand or coffee grounds.
• Moist snuffs are the granular size of fine dirt or sand. Extremely small cut.
• Pouches hold fine cut tobacco in a small, teabag-like pouch. They are less messy because the tobacco won't fall out of one's fingers and mouth. Spitless pouches are Snus.

[edit] Health issues

An example of how dipping tobacco may be used.

[edit] Cardiovascular effects

Studies are inconclusive as to how significantly smokeless tobacco affects users' cardiovascular systems, but it has been studied that it may have more nicotine than cigarettes. One study states that, "Although the evidence is not conclusive, the adverse cardiovascular effects of smokeless tobacco is bad tobacco use are less than those caused by smoking but are more than those found in non-users."^[1] Other studies also indicate that smokeless tobacco related cardiovascular risks are lower than that of smoked tobacco.^[2][3] One study states that smokeless tobacco use has a "modest effect on cardiovascular risk factors in young physically fit men."^[4]

However, it is important to note that one Indian study from the state of Rajasthan states, "There is a significantly greater prevalence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors [sic] obesity, resting tachycardia, hypertension, high total and LDL cholesterol, and low HDL cholesterol, and electrocardiographic changes in tobacco users, chewing or smoking, as compared-to tobacco non-users. Chewing tobacco is associated with similar cardiovascular risk as smoking."^[5] This finding may bear on the possibility that smokeless tobacco in India is produced differently than in Western countries.^{[original research?]}

Due to contrasting results in studies, many conclude that further research should be done on the cardiovascular risks of smokeless tobacco.^[6][7]

[edit] Misconceptions

According to one study, only a "handful of websites" contain accurate information on the hazards of smokeless tobacco. One third of websites relating to smokeless tobacco "explicitly" claim that smokeless tobacco is comparable to, or worse than, cigarettes. The conclusion reads:

"Through these websites, and presumably other information provided by the same government, advocacy, and educational organizations, ST [smokeless tobacco] users are told, in effect, that they might as well switch to smoking if they like it a bit more. Smokers and policy makers are told there is no potential for harm reduction. The freshness of chewing tobbaco can be keep by putting Rum or scotch into the can and shaking. These messages are clearly false and likely harmful, representing violations of ethical standards."^[8]

[edit] Addiction potential

Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, which is the primary addictive agent.

According to European Union policy, Scandinavian or some American smokeless tobaccos are at least 90% less hazardous than cigarette smoking.^[9] However, the habit is still addictive.

Taxation and restriction of smoking is causing more smokeless tobacco use as "substitution." There are active public health debates regarding risk-reduction for smokers and the reconsideration of smokeless tobacco risks. "...There is a substantial body of informed and independent opinion that sees the value of harm reduction strategies based on smokeless tobacco."^[10]

The major U.S. Brands of smokeless tobacco, Kodiak, Grizzly, Copenhagen, and Skoal, contain far higher concentrations of nicotine than a comparable cigarette. This nicotine concentration can make quitting smokeless tobacco extremely difficult for the addict.

[edit] Additives

There are few reports confirming exactly what additives are in smokeless tobacco, and it is very likely that brands vary in what and how much of each additive they use. There is a widespread urban myth that glass or fiberglass is mixed into each tin to cause abrasion to the lip, resulting in higher and faster nicotine absorption, but at least in the case of snus, the appearance of glass-like particles may be due to the formation of salt crystals.^[11]

The addition of glass to dipping tobacco would not be beneficial for increasing nicotine delivery, as bleeding and inflammation would be likely to reduce the uptake of nicotine.^[12] The amount of nicotine absorbed can be controlled by different cutting of the tobacco, increasing the nicotine concentration and raising the pH of the tobacco by adding various salts.^[13] An alkaline pH causes more nicotine to be absorbed, especially the free, unprotonated form, but is irritating to the mucosa. Nicotine itself can also irritate the mucosa.

[edit] List of brands

[edit] Common brands

• Copenhagen
• Husky
• Grizzly
• Kodiak
• Kayak
• Longhorn
• Red Man Moist Snuff
• Red Seal
• Rooster
• Skoal
• Timber Wolf

[edit] Less common brands

• Renegades
• Redwood
• Silver Creek
• Camel dip
• Cooper
• Cougar
• Starr
• Gold River
• Stokers
• Silverado
• Happy Days (Discontinued)
• Dukes
• Hawken
• Revved Up Energy Dip
• Marlboro Snuff
• Bobcat
• Neftóbak (Icelandic "ruddi")

[edit] Legality

Based on what at the time was believed to be a strong association with cancer and a fairly low usage outside of North America and the Nordic countries, several countries have banned the sale (and in some cases the import) of dipping tobacco. Sale of dipping tobacco was banned in Australia and New Zealand in 1986 ^[14] and in most of the EU nations in 1992 ^[15]. Sweden was exempt from this ban because of the traditionally high usage of snus in that country.

In the USA it is illegal to sell dip to persons under the age of 18 (except in Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey, Utah, and some parts of New York where the legal age to purchase tobacco is 19).

[edit] See also

• Herbal dipping tobacco
• Tobacco industry
• Tobacco products
• Smoking cessation
• Snus

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Smokeout: Not as easy as ABC - Commentary - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
• Effect of smokeless tobacco (snus) on smoking and public health in Sweden
• Tobacco harm reduction: an alternative cessation strategy for inveterate smokers. By Brad Rodu and William T. Godshall, published in December 2006 in Harm Reduction Journal.