TOBACCO SPECIFIC NITROSAMINE LEVELS OF MARAS POWDER (TURKISH SMOKELESS TOBACCO)

Objective: One of the preparations of smokeless tobacco different from other branded and locally produced ones in Turkey is Maras powder (Mp). Mp contains carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) which are common among smokeless tobacco products. There is no specific research analyzing nitrosamine levels in Mp. In the present study, we aim to investigate the levels of nitrosamine of Mp. Method: N' nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(nitrosometil-amino)-1-(3-pyridil)-butanon (NNK), N' Nitrosoanatabine (NAT), N’ Nitrosoanabasine (NAB), and total TSNA were evaluated in six different Mp mixtures and then analyzed with chromatographic method. Results: The levels of NNN, NNK, NAT, NAB, and total TSNA were 2.5 ± 0.3 μg/g, 0.7 ± 0.07 μg/g, 1.0 ± 0.1 μg/g, 0.3 ± 0.03 μg/g, and 4.5 ± 0.5 μg/g, respectively. The level of TSNA in wood ash was lower than 0.2 μg/g, which was considered an insignificant level for them. When the levels of nitrosamines in Mp were compared with other smokeless tobacco, they were found to be lower. Conclusion: These results indicated that non-commercial and impure Nicotiana rustica (NRL) contains lower amounts of nitrosamines that are potentially harmful to humans.