500 



-2- 



L Description of Smokeless Tobacco Products 



There arc two forms of smokeless tobacco; oral snuff and chewing tobacco. Snuff 

 is a finely ground tobacco that is held in the mouth next to the cheek and gvxm. 

 Chewing tobacco is cut-leaf tobacco that is chewed. Oral snuff is called "dip" and is sold 

 under brand names as Skoal, Copenhagen, and Hawken in 1.2 oz tins. Chewing tobacco 

 is called "chew" and common braiids include Red Man and Levi Garrett that come 

 generally in 3 oz pouches. 



II. Use of Smokeless Tobacco Products Cause Cancer and Other Life Threatening 

 Diseases 



Oral sni.iff, the most popular form of smokeless tobacco, causes mouth cancer, 

 gum recession, and other oral health problems- A North Carolina study found that long- 

 term users of oral smiff were 50 times more likely to develop mouth cancer than 

 nonusers. Mouth cancer is a devastating disease resultiiig in the loss of portions of the 

 face and jaw. More thaii 40 percent of patients are dead within five years of diagnosis. 

 Cancer-causing chemicals contained in oral tobacco include polonivtm 210 (a radioactive 

 particle), benzopyrene, and iiitrosamines. Nitrosamines are potent carcinogeix<; and arc 

 foT.md in oral tobacco at levels 20,000 times greater than allowed in food and beverages. 

 Cancers are often preceded by oral leukoplakia, white patches caused by the irritation 

 of the tobacco. Approximately 3 to 6 percent of oral leukoplakia exhibit precancerous 

 cell changes. Use of oral snuff aleo causes breakdown of the gum tissue next to where 

 the tobacco is held, a condition called gingival recession. Treatment of tliis problem can 

 be painful and expensive. 



III. Use of Oral Snuff Can Cause Dependence and Nicotine's the Active Chemical 

 In Oral Snuff that Produces the Dependence 



There have been a number of reviews of the literature on the addictiveness of oral 

 snuff. The U.S. Surgeon General and World Health Organization have concluded that 

 smokeless tobacco can cause addiction. These reviews show that oral snuff delivers 

 nicotine to users at levels equal to that for cigarette smoking (see appendix A), and that 

 \isers demonstrate the same addictive behaviors as cigarette smokers. 



