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Spit Tobacco
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:
- started using spit tobacco at age 13.
- was diagnosed with oral cancer at age 17.
- has been through 35 painful surgeries.
- has had parts of his neck and tongue removed.