Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?

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...

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Main Authors: Olufemi B. Omole, Gboyega A. Ogunbanjo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2009-08-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1218
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author Olufemi B. Omole
Gboyega A. Ogunbanjo
author_facet Olufemi B. Omole
Gboyega A. Ogunbanjo
author_sort Olufemi B. Omole
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-ecb0bdc44c2549c0aa479545c774237b2025-08-20T04:03:17ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042009-08-0151410.1080/20786204.2009.108738671082Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?Olufemi B. Omole0Gboyega A. Ogunbanjo1Department of Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Family Medicine and PHC, University of Limpopo, PretoriaAntismoking 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.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1218smokeless tobaccocigarettescardiovascular riskshealth implicationssnuffications, snuff
spellingShingle Olufemi B. Omole
Gboyega A. Ogunbanjo
Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?
South African Family Practice
smokeless tobacco
cigarettes
cardiovascular risks
health implications
snuffications, snuff
title Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?
title_full Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?
title_fullStr Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?
title_full_unstemmed Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?
title_short Smokeless tobacco: Is it really safe?
title_sort smokeless tobacco is it really safe
topic smokeless tobacco
cigarettes
cardiovascular risks
health implications
snuffications, snuff
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1218
work_keys_str_mv AT olufemibomole smokelesstobaccoisitreallysafe
AT gboyegaaogunbanjo smokelesstobaccoisitreallysafe