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Exploring Tobacco-Free Nicotine: What You Need to Know

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It is pretty common knowledge that tobacco use is harmful to the human body. According to WHO’s statistics, tobacco use kills around 8 million people globally every year. WHO also said that cigarette smoking is the most common way of tobacco use, and all forms of tobacco use are harmful.
While the majority of tobacco users are aware of the dangers caused by it, they just find it quite a challenge to ditch the habit, and the fact is, most of them fail when attempting to quit. Studies show that only 8 percent of smokers manage to quit smoking in 2023, compared to 7 percent in 2003.
The root cause lies in nicotine- a highly stimulant that makes people heavily dependent on its effects. Nicotine is the main substance present in cigarettes and other tobacco products, and is the main reason why people smoke or use tobacco products often.
In that case, manufacturers in the industry are dedicated to developing newer nicotine options, namely tobacco-free nicotine products to substitute cigarettes and other tobacco products, aiming to provide healthier alternatives to regular tobacco use.
In this article, we will dive into tobacco-free nicotine on its type,trend, usage and effects. We also discuss whether it is a better alternative to tobacco products.
 
 

What is tobacco-free nicotine?

When it comes to tobacco-free nicotine, it usually refers to both ‘tobacco-free’ and ‘tobacco leaf- free’ nicotine. The former is also known as synthetic nicotine or non-tobacco nicotine, which means nicotine is synthesized in a lab; and the latter usually refers to nicotine that is extracted from tobacco, but not containing tobacco leaf.
Tobacco-free nicotine products comes in a variety of types, some commonly known product types include:

E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes, also known as vapes or vaping, are battery powered devices that heat a liquid to produce nicotine-containing aerosols for users’ inhalation. The liquid usually consisted of a mixture of nicotine, glycerin ,propylene glycol and flavorings, without using tobacco leaf.

Non-tobacco heated sticks

Non-tobacco heated sticks are also promoted as heated tobacco alternatives,which are similar to heat-not-burn or heated tobacco sticks in appearance and working science, whilst eliminating the use of tobacco. Non-tobacco heated sticks usually replace tobacco with tea or other natural herbals, which are mixed with nicotine and flavorings.

Modern oral nicotine products

Modern oral nicotine products are tobacco-free products which contain high-purity nicotine, flavorings and other ingredients. These products come in a variety of forms, such as pouches, gums, lozenges and toothpicks, etc.
E-cigarettes, which had been prevalent among youth over the past two decades, have witnessed a sharp decline recently.
Take the US for example, according to the FDA’s report, US youth e-cigarette use declined to its lowest level in a decade, with half a million fewer youth reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2024 compared to 2023.
Factors behind the decline include tightened restriction on their sale, widely educational campaigns from public health authorities, etc.
While e-cigarettes have witnessed a drop, oral nicotine pouches, on the other hand, have emerged as a new trend of tobacco-free nicotine products.

Oral nicotine pouches become the new phenomenon

Oral nicotine pouches, the newly developed product type, have soared in popularity over the past few years.
According to the statistics of Grand View Research , the global nicotine pouches market size was valued at around USD 3011.4 million in 2023, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 34% between 2024 and 2030.
The research also said that one reason why people show increasing interest in nicotine pouches is due to its convenient and discreet way of use. Also, some consumers believe oral nicotine pouches are potentially less harmful than smoking.
So, what are oral nicotine pouches? They are small permeable tea bag-like pouches which contain nicotine, flavorings, plant-based fibers, and sweeteners. These products don’t contain tobacco leaf, so they are usually marketed as “tobacco-free” products.
Nicotine pouches come in various nicotine strengths and flavors, and the nicotine is either synthesized in a lab or extracted from tobacco. When in use, they are typically placed between lip and gum. The nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membrane.
Some of the popular brands include Zyn, On! , Velo ,Rogue and so on. Also, there are many emerging brands entering the market, and our Zylo is one among them.
Tobacco-free nicotine products are usually promoted as a safer alternative to smoking.
So,are these products less harmful than cigarette smoking?

Are tobacco-free nicotine products better alternatives to smoking?

Smoking is proven to be the leading causes of various diseases, such as lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart diseases, asthma, stroke and a myriad of other health conditions.
Nicotine,as the most typical compound in cigarettes, is mostly condemned when it comes to health risks of smoking. As a matter of fact, it has been established that nicotine is not the primary culprits in smoking- related diseases.
Nicotine is not regarded as a carcinogenic substance. For example, according to the European Code Against Cancer , an international agency for research on cancer, the nicotine effect is “to make tobacco addictive rather than to cause cancer directly” .
Most of the harmful effects from smoking, instead, mainly comes from tobacco and cigarette burning.
First of all, tobacco itself contains various toxins, such as polonium, lead, cadmium, nitrosamines and many other radioactive chemicals . These toxins can be produced during growing, curing or aging processing of tobacco.
When a cigarette is burnt, the toxins will be released and inhaled by the smoker and his bystanders, causing serious health problems. For example , when inhaled, the polonium and lead will build up in the lungs of people, leading to cancer.
It is far more than this. It is reported that the combustion of cigarettes produces about 7000 chemicals, and more than 250 chemicals are established to be toxic, among which around 70 are carcinogens.
The toxins and carcinogens in tobacco and cigarette smoke are responsible for most smoking related diseases and deaths. Smoking is estimated to account for 90% of lung cancer risk in men and 70 to 80% in women, and is responsible for about 80% of deaths from the disease, according to the research of National Institute of Health.
Different from cigarette smoking, tobacco-free nicotine products do not contain tobacco and do not involve in the burning process. This means these products do not carry the same health risks that are associated with tobacco and cigarette smoking.
From this perspective, it can be said that tobacco-free nicotine products are potentially less harmful than cigarette smoking.
 

Tobacco-free nicotine is not entirely risk-free

While tobacco- free nicotine products can reduce smokers’ chance to have smoking-related health problems, they are not risk free, as nicotine on its own comes with various negative effects on the human body.
The biggest problem with nicotine is its high addiction.This means once you pick up the habit, it is difficult for you to wean it off. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can be overwhelming, and may knock you down when you attempt to quit.
The withdrawal symptoms include a strong urge for nicotine, and other physical and psychological symptoms, such as cough, dry mouth, headache, insomnia, anxiety, poor sleeping, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, to name a few.
Besides, nicotine exposure during adolescence is especially harmful, as nicotine can cause long-lasting changes in brain development, disrupting the formation of brain circuits that manage learning, memory, concentration,attention, mood and susceptibility to addiction. Studies show that nicotine exposure in early age may increase the risk of future cigarette smoking.
Nicotine is also a health risk factor for a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. Nicotine use during pregnancy may lead to premature birth, low birth weight, orofacial clefts, etc.Studies also show that nicotine exposure during pregnancy may cause an increased risk of various long-term health conditions for the child, such as respiratory infections and asthma.
Aside from these adverse effects, nicotine can also negatively affect our cardiovascular system.When entering the body, nicotine triggers the release of catecholamines, which are neurotransmitters and hormones that lead to an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. Catecholamines include dopamine, norepinephrine and adrenaline.
So, vulnerable groups, especially people who are at risk of heart disease or stroke are advised to steer clear of consuming nicotine products.
In a word, nicotine can affect our health in a variety of ways. Tobacco-free nicotine products, as a result, are not completely harmless. These products are designed for established tobacco users to help reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals in tobacco and cigarette smoke. They are not recommended for non-smokers and can not be sold to people under 18 years old.

In conclusion

All in all, tobacco-free nicotine products offer the satisfaction of nicotine without exposing people to the carcinogens and other toxins in tobacco and cigarette smoke.
So, if you are someone who is looking to avoid the detrimental health effects of smoking or tobacco use, while not quite ready or unable to give up nicotine use, tobacco-free nicotine products can be a viable, safer option for you.
It is also worth noting that if you are not a current smoker or tobacco user, you are not encouraged to use any form of nicotine products, as nicotine, regardless of its sources, is an extremely addictive substance and can pose adverse effects to the human body.
Posted in Non-Tobacco Alternatives, Health & Safety, Industry News.
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