Smokeless tobacco products may contain several bacterial species that have been linked to various health concerns, including opportunistic infections and lung inflammation.
In a study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, researchers detailed that bacteria like Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus and others can pose health risks to those using smokeless tobacco products. And where the bacteria doesn't directly cause health conditions, some species can act as causative agents facilitating spice-related vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, mild toxins may be produced, which can cause illness in large quantities.
Another danger presented by bacteria in smokeless tobacco products is the reduction of nitrates to nitrites, leading to the possible formation of tobacco-specific N'-nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.
Smokeless tobacco products are held in the mouths of users for extended time periods to allow nicotine to pass through mucus membranes and into the bloodstream. While this eases the absorption of nicotine, it also guarantees exposure to bacteria present in smokeless tobacco products.
And when users have oral health issues due to smokeless tobacco products or other causes, some strains of Staphylococcus hominis and Staphylococcus epidermidis can make their way into the bloodstream and lead to heart valve infection.
Some 8 million people in the United States use smokeless tobacco products but there is little information on the kind of microbes existing on the products. The researchers carried out the study to gain a better understanding of the possible microbiological risks connected to using smokeless tobacco products.
The results of the study can be used in designing a baseline microbiological profile for smokeless tobacco, which will aid in evaluating microbial risks and giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the information it needs to make regulatory decisions involving the products.
In April, the FDA launched a campaign aimed at showing youths in rural areas the risks of using smokeless tobacco products.
"Not only is the target audience using smokeless tobacco at a high rate, but many do not fully understand the negative health consequences of their actions," said Mitch Zeller, J.D., from the FDA.
By specifically targeting teenagers with compelling education, the campaign hopes to reiterate the effects of smokeless tobacco products on young users. According to the FDA's Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, 31.84 percent of white rural males between the ages of 12 and 17 are either trying or are at risk of using smokeless tobacco products. That's about 629,000 young males across the United States.
Called "The Real Cost," the campaign was developed using insights from white adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old living in rural areas.
