Freezing snus and TSNAs?

[turbozed]

Has anyone ever done a study about what happens to the snus that's chilling in the freezer in regards to increases in tobacco-specific nitrosamines?

I know tobacco products that sit on the shelf develop more TSNAs, even snus. I was just wondering at what rate the freezing process stops the development of TSNAs. I'm sure the snus is still worlds better in terms of carcinogen content after freezing, but just curious.

Anybody else curious?

[Azrsuperstar]

I know that freezing or chlling snus is supposed to limit or slow down TSNA formation. How much does it slow down TSNA formation? I have no idea, there is a guy that posts on this board--goes by the name Zero. He most likely will be able to tell you.

I'd like to know what stops TSNAs from forming better, freezing or chilling?

ZERO?

[sychodelix]

Freezing stops bacteria from multiplying much more efficiently than just refrigeration does (freezing even kills some of them), so I'm guessing that the TSNAs work much the same way.

[DarrylR]

A general rule of thumb for most (not all) chemical reactions is that the rate at which the reaction proceeds will approximately double for each 10°C increase in temperature. Assuming spontaneous TSNA formation follows that rule, then:

TSNA formation in a refrigerator at 40F (5C) should occur at about 1/3rd the rate as at room temperature 70F (21C), and TSNA formation in a freezer at 0F (minus 18C) should occur at about 1/15th the rate as at the same room temperature.

I'm not aware of the mechanism of spontaneous TSNA formation. If it requires encountering another molecular catalyst like a free-radical, then locking the miscreant in an ice lattice (at below freezing temperatures) would practically halt most chemical reactions, in addition to the pure temperature related effects above. Then again, with all the other tobacco leaf molecules floating in what remains of their cells, it could radically drop the actual freezing temperature of the water solution.

EDIT: I found this in http://www.tobaccoprogram.org/pdf/TC12349.pdf

One study examined levels of carcinogenic TSNAs in snus kept at temperatures ranging from -20°C to +23°C for 20 weeks. This exposure to a variety of temperatures over time did not produce a significant increase in concentrations of TSNAs, suggesting that the exposure to heat during manufacturing may itself have prevented microbial activation of nitrites. (citing: Osterdahl BG, Sloarach SA. Volatile N-nitrosamines in snuff and chewing tobacco on the Swedish market. Food Chem Toxicol 1983;21:759–762.)

[Sal1000us]

Attached is (was) a confidential document which was published by BAT Co LTD in a Minnesota tobacco litigation case. It is amzing how big boys of tobacco knew everything there was to know about TSNAs 20 years ago. The article is a must read for anyone interested in more info on TSNA. According to the article:

- Individual air-tight packaging of snuff in aluminum foil prevents additional formation of TSNA.

- Tobacco sprayed with glucose significantly reduced TSNA

- Snuff stored in open packaging is associated with a 4-fold higher rate of increase of the volatile TSNA over closed packaging. During a 2-week storage period the TSNA level rose by 50%

- TSNA level in air-cured tobacco rose by 36% during 1-year storage at 20C, as opposed to 70% at 30C (the colder the better). Parallel to this , the nitrate concentration declined more at higher temperatures than at lower ones.

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/guildfor...4/00012480.pdf

[Sal1000us]

Also, Exllent news to all of us (Swedish snusers)

According to Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health:
Department of Public Health's Research on TSNA Levels in Oral Snuff. The Department of Public Health contracted with the American HealthFoundation to determine how the new and existing technologies affect the levelsof TSNAs in six brands of oral snuff. The Department obtained brands of snuffsold in the Commonwealth as well as one brand, Ettan, sold in Sweden. TheAmerican Health Foundation research found that the Swedish Match brand and itsU.S. subsidiary brand had total TSNA levels between 2.8 ug/g (Ettan) and 7.5ug/g (TimberWolf). These levels were far lower than that found for the standardbrands available in the state. levels for UST, Swisher andConwood brands ranged from 16.6 ug/g to 127.9 ug/g.

The same study examined the effect of product aging over two, four and sixmonths. Product aging involves placing the tobacco product on a shelf at roomtemperature and retesting the TSNA levels at the specified time periods. Thestudy found that certain U.S. brands had large increases in TSNA levels.Copenhagen increased 137% over the six-month time period and Skoal increased20%. Silver Creek increased 9% over a four month time period. No significant changes were observed in the levels of Swedish Match or its subsidiary brands.

Excellent article (17 pages)
http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw....nuffsstudy.pdf