The Nation - News from July 17, 1989

People who use chewing tobacco and snuff appear to get as much nicotine as cigarette smokers, and the practice may also increase their risk for heart disease and various forms of cancer, researchers reported. A new study by researchers at UC San Francisco, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found men who used “smokeless tobacco” were exposed to about as much nicotine as cigarette smokers. The study also found that like cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco use also increased the heart rate and blood pressure, and chewing tobacco appeared to expose users to potentially cancer-causing chemicals. An estimated 16 million Americans use smokeless tobacco. Its use has been linked to an increased risk of developing oral cancer and gum disease.