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Posted on Jul 02, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
People who use smokeless tobacco products (STPs) have an increased risk of developing types of cancer, according to research.
People who use smokeless tobacco products (STPs) have an increased risk of developing types of cancer, according to research.
An international study into the use of STPs by scientists found that the products had carcinogenic properties which led to an 80 per cent increase in risk of oral cancer, a 60 per cent rise in the risk of esophageal cancer and pancreatic cancer.
"The risk of cancer, especially that of oral and lung cancer, is probably lower in smokeless tobacco users in the USA and northern Europe than in smokers and the risk of cancer is higher in smokeless tobacco users than in non-users of any form of tobacco," said the report.
Another aspect of the study revealed that people who switch to snuff, an example of an STP, from smoking had a 90 per cent increased risk of cancer compared to people who gave up tobacco products altogether.
"We do not intend to address explicitly the use of smokeless tobacco to reduce the risk from tobacco smoking - e.g. by promoting smokers to switch to smokeless products," the report stated.
According to the World Health Organization, every eight seconds, someone dies as a result of tobacco use.
