Smokeless tobacco: is it really safe?

Abstract

Antismoking campaigns and government legislation have resulted in a decline in smoking. However, the use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is on the increase. Smokeless tobacco is non-smoked tobacco used either intranasally or intraorally. The increase in its use is possibly due to the perception that SLT is a safe alternative to smoking. SLT includes tobacco products such as snuff (sniffed or placed in the oral cavity) and tobacco leaves (which are chewed). In South Africa, traditional and social practices influence SLT use. While the adverse health outcomes associated with smoking are well established, some health risks attributable to SLT use have not been studied conclusively, especially those that affect the cardiovascular system. Although some studies have found some relationships between SLT use and adverse health outcomes, others have found SLT use to be associated with risks not higher than those in non-users. This article reviews the available literature on the use of SLT, the associated health risks and adverse health outcomes with the aim of providing a scientific basis on which primary care physicians can make rational decisions when confronted with current SLT users or those who contemplate using SLT as a nicotine harm-reduction substance.