Harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in two novel nicotine pouch products in comparison with regular smokeless tobacco products and pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapy products (NRTs)

Introduction:
This article compares the chemical characteristics of two novel nicotine pouch products, ZYN dry and moist, with regular smokeless tobacco products, such as snus and moist snuff, and pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapy products (NRTs), Nicorette lozenge and Nicotinell gum. The study tests for the presence of 43 compounds, including those classified as harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) by the Center for Tobacco Products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA-CTP).

Key Points:

* The two ZYN products contained no nitrosamines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) but low levels of ammonia, chromium, formaldehyde, and nickel.
* In the NRT products, low levels of acetaldehyde, ammonia, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, uranium-235, and uranium-238 were quantified.
* The largest number (27) and generally the highest levels of HPHCs were quantified in the moist snuff products.
* Six out of seven tested PAHs and seven out of ten nitrosamines (included NNN and NNK) were found in the moist snuff products.
* A total of 19 compounds, none of which were PAHs, were quantified at low levels in the snus product.
* NNN and NNK levels were five to 12-fold lower in snus compared to the moist snuff products.
* No nitrosamines or PAHs were quantified in the ZYN and NRT products.
* Overall, the number of quantified HPHCs were similar between ZYN and NRT products and found at low levels.

Main Message:
The main message of this study is that the two ZYN nicotine pouch products and the NRT products contained low levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs), similar to the snus product, and did not contain any nitrosamines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The moist snuff products, on the other hand, contained the largest number and generally the highest levels of HPHCs. These findings suggest that nicotine pouches and NRT products may be a lower-risk alternative to traditional smokeless tobacco products for those seeking to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals.

Back, S., Masser, A. E., Rutqvist, L. E., & Lindholm, J. (2023). Harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in two novel nicotine pouch products in comparison with regular smokeless tobacco products and pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapy products (NRTs). BMC Chemistry, 17(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-023-00918-1