Oral nicotine pouches deliver lower levels of toxic substances than smoking but that doesnt mean theyre safe [Video]

Oral nicotine pouches – like Zyn and Velo in the U.S. – appear to be less toxic than cigarettes and deliver comparable levels of nicotine. This makes them an alternative for people who smoke. However, people who’ve never smoked are using them, too, and youth are open to trying them. These are key findings of our recent systematic review, published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

Oral nicotine pouches are preportioned pouches sold in various flavors and nicotine strengths. They are similar in appearance and use to traditional ‘snus’, a form of smokeless tobacco placed between the gum and lip, which is popular in Scandinavia. However, unlike snus, nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco leaf. As a result, they are often marketed as “tobacco-free.”

One of the studies in our review found that the “tobacco-free” label is confusing to some and may lead people to think nicotine pouches do not contain nicotine.

On average, studies in our review showed that nicotine …