Market Survey of Modern Oral Nicotine Products: Determination of Select HPHCs and Comparison to Traditional Smokeless Tobacco Products

Joseph J Jablonski,Andrew G Cheetham,Alexandra M Martin

doi:10.3390/separations9030065

Abstract

In an effort to combat the risks associated with traditional tobacco products, tobacco product innovation has been redirected towards reducing the consumer’s potential exposure to harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs). Among these innovations are modern oral nicotine products (MONPs). This product class aims to deliver nicotine while limiting the consumer’s potential toxicant exposure. This body of work sought to investigate the potential for select HPHC exposure (tobacco-specific nitrosamines, carbonyls, benzo[a]pyrene, nitrite, and metals) from MONPs and to compare it to that from traditional tobacco products. This work expands on previously published studies both in terms of diversity of products assessed and analytes tested. In total, twenty-one unique MONPs were assessed and compared to four traditional tobacco products. We found that there was a difference in the potential exposure based on the MONP filler—plant material vs. granulate/powder. Typically, the HPHC levels observed in plant-based MONPs were higher than those observed for granulate/powder products, most notably within the metals analysis, for which the levels were occasionally greater than those seen in traditional smokeless tobacco products. Generally, the overall HPHC levels observed in MONP were at or below those levels observed in traditional tobacco products.

Highlights

It is generally acknowledged that use of tobacco products is associated with risks
As these products aim to reduce the consumer’s exposure to harmful or potentially harmful constituents, the expected levels of each analyte examined is expected to be lower than those observed in traditional smokeless tobacco products
It must be noted that given the variety of nicotine strengths, from brand to brand, but even within a manufacturer’s own flavor, the products selected for analysis were at the maximum nicotine strength available

Summary

Introduction

In an effort to combat these risks, tobacco science and production have refocused their efforts to provide consumers with products that may limit their potential exposure to harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs). In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (‘Tobacco Control Act’) was passed in which control over regulatory oversight was given to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [1,2]. Included in this act were specific requirements for the language to be included on warning labels for various tobacco products and the need for scientific rigor when making claims for any modified risk profile a product may offer [3]. The Tobacco Control Act further required the FDA to establish a list of harmful or potentially harmful constituents to human health found in mainstream smoke and tobacco products (referred to as the ‘HPHC list’) [4]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion