Snus

As snus [ snʉ ː s] ( in Austria and in Switzerland often Snüs ) is called a spread in Norway and Sweden form of oral tobacco.

Ingredients

Snus is an offset with salts tobacco which is placed under the upper or lower lip. While nicotine is seen on the duration of application as it is absorbed in the case of a cigarette. The salt serves to maintain the pH in the mouth, which favors the absorption of nicotine.

The widespread opinion that snus is enriched with fine shards of glass, so that the nicotine passes rapidly into the bloodstream, is a misinformation that came about because the salt contained in the snus crystallized after an extended dry storage and is then reflected in appropriate lighting.

Solubility and serving

Solubility

The Snus is here packaged as a moist powder in doses of 50 or 45 grams and must be portioned before use. The doses for loose snus are usually made of cardboard ( Swedish Match ), plastic or metal.

Portion

From Portionsnus is when the snus is packaged in small pouches made ​​of cellulose. Portionsnus is available in four different sizes: mini, normal, large and extra. A distinction is made between Portionsnus " vit " (white) and "original". In white portions (but not snus ) baglet dry and is expected to prevent a through juices and allow the snus can also be stored outside the refrigerator. For original portions and the purse is damp. The packaged in packets Snus is available in different flavors such as liquorice, peppermint and wintergreen. Snus cans for Portionsnus be made of plastic or metal. Many plastic tins have a so-called combi -lid or double -lid in the lid, where you can dispose of the used packages.

Application and storage

A Portionsnus - purse is taken from the can and placed behind the upper lip or lower lip, where it then remains until the effect is over.

In order to portion the loose snus well, there are different methods

• It is with your fingers a little pile out and kneads it into a kind of spherical balls, then you stuck it under the upper lip.
• It uses a Prismaster (plastic) or Icetool (steel or aluminum). Both are tools for forming a pinch of snus.

If one uses it properly, you can remove it easily after about 15 to 60 minutes by raising the upper lip. An incorrect use of loose snus a part of the mass slips on the teeth and in the mouth, which is very unpleasant and is poorly tolerated. It may also be that in untrained use of snus to " run " begins, that is, the juice is distributed in the mouth. Swallowing this juice can cause nausea.

Snus is to be stored in the refrigerator according to the manufacturer maximum of seven to eight degrees Celsius.

Health risks

Since you do not smoke tobacco in consumption, and thus occur even no other pollutants that would result from combustion of the tobacco, the Snusen is considered less harmful to health. In addition, the nitrosamine content is significantly lower. Because of the restrictive regulations on cigarettes snus is especially popular in Scandinavia, especially in Norway and Sweden.

In a study from the Karolinska Institute 125 576 snus were considered who have never smoked tobacco. Scientists at the Medical University presented here found that Snuskonsum increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. They suggested to add the use of Swedish snus in the list of preliminary risk factors for pancreatic cancer. At the same time, they realized that they were not able to detect an increased risk for the disease of oral or lung cancer in snus users.

In a 2003 study, in which also the excellent of the WHO nicotine researchers Prof. Karl Fagerström participated, note the researchers concluded that the availability of snus in Sweden probably has an influence on the unusually low smoking rates among Swedish men, since the considered Swedish Men have changed through the snus a much less harmful form of nicotine dependence. The proportion of smokers in Sweden was in 2012 at 13 % and the EU average at 28 %.

Although snus, such as tobacco smoke can lead to dependence, there are various scientific studies which examine the way in which snus can help with smoking cessation.

Inflammation of the oral mucosa at the points where the snus is pushed toward, are possible, but usually form after the end of consumerism back.

One advantage of snus is that it is doing, unlike, for example cigarette smoking, is no passive consumption.

Initial consumption often causes dizziness and nausea.

Sales ban in the EU

Because of the Directive on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products, the commercial marketing of snus in the European Union with the exception of Sweden is prohibited. For Germany the ban is implemented in § 5a of the "Tobacco Regulation " for " Food and Commodities Act ". It says: "It is forbidden, tobacco products which are intended for oral use an otherwise than smoking or chewing, to bring professional on the market. " Our acquisition of snus is legal from a minimum age of 18 years. In Austria, the ban was implemented in § 2 Tobacco Act.

An action of a manufacturer and a German tobacco sales in the European Court for waiver of the prohibition had no success.

The Swedish EU Presidency in 2009 was according to media reports attempt to legalize the sale of snus in the EU.

Varieties and brands

The oldest Swedish Snussorte Ettan has been produced since 1822 by the company Ljunglöf. The leading manufacturer is " Swedish Match " followed by Gallaher.