Levels of Nornicotine in Smokeless Tobacco as a Precursor for Carcinogen Exposure

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or female adult smokeless tobacco users 21 years of age and older, using at least 1 tin of product per week for 6 months
• Used the same brand for > 80% of their smokeless tobacco use over the course of at least 6 months, and used this brand exclusively for at least two weeks prior to the eligibility screening
• Not smoking or using any other nicotine or tobacco product in the past 2 weeks
• Participants are in good physical health (no unstable medical conditions) as determined by the licensed medical professional
• Participants are in stable, good mental health (e.g. not currently, within the past 6 months, experiencing unstable or untreated psychiatric diagnosis, including substance abuse) as determined by the licensed medical professional
• Participant who are not taking any medications that affect relevant metabolic enzymes
• Women who are not pregnant or nursing or planning to become pregnant
• Participants have provided written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Significant immune system disorders, respiratory diseases, kidney or liver diseases or any other medical disorders that may affect biomarker data as determined by the licensed medical professional
• Vital signs out of range as determined by the licensed medical professional (participants failing for vital signs will be allowed to re-screen once)
• Evident poor oral health (significant gum recession, dental caries, tooth loss) as determined by the oral health status questionnaire
• Problems with drinking or drugs (e.g., self-report of binge drinking alcohol or treatment for drug or alcohol abuse within last 3 months); to be assessed by principal investigator (PI) or licensed medical professional
• Regular smoking or tobacco use (e.g., greater than once a week) other than oral smokeless tobacco products
• Currently (within the past 2 weeks) using nicotine replacement or other tobacco cessation products (to minimize confounding effects of another product)
• Quit attempt lasting 24 hours or longer in the past three months