Chemical Characterization of Indian Smokeless tobacco products by spectroscopy, chromatography, and allied techniques: Interproduct Variation

Background: This investigation provides an updated study measuring the levels of chemical components for the top-selling smokeless tobacco products (SLT) viz. khaini, mishri, pan masala + tobacco, snus, and tobacco-betel nut mixture in the Indian market. Methods: : A total of twelve SLT were collected and analyzed for nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using various standard techniques of gas and liquid chromatography(as GC-MS, GC-TEA, LC-MS/MS)at two different laboratories and compared to previous studies. Results: : Mishri contains a major share of tobacco-specific nitrosaminesas NNN (10 folds where folds refer to a comparison of average) and NNK (25-30 folds) with higher ratio than other SLT. Total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content of mishri quantified to be 702-794 µg/g of SLT which was 7-9 fold higher than snus. On geographical distribution, SLT composition reflects inter and intra-differences. TSNA levels were drastically different between mishri and khaini samples. This extensive variation is attributed to tobacco curing and other manufacturing techniques. Conclusions: : Overall, findings indicate mishri to be most harmful among all SLT whereas snus can be considered as an alternative for better public health.The chemical characterization provides a broader understanding of differences in carcinogenic-potential relating to the concentration-variation between the products. Also, the present study would create a database to ensure the consumer's right to be informed about health-risk from a product and make aware of the need to monitor and regulate the ingredients among all SLT used in the country.