Nicotine Levels by Product

Nicotine content in smokeless tobacco differs from that of cigarettes. Furthermore, nicotine levels are not required to be disclosed to the consumer.

History
In March of 1966, the FTC announced the Cambridge Filter Method to determine tar and nicotine yields in manufactured cigarettes. Three years later, these yields were required to be posted alongside advertisements. In 2008, the FTC rescinded its previous guidance, which had been standard for the last 40 years, due to consensus that the method was flawed and did not assist consumers. Thus, current nicotine numbers are not currently provided by manufacturers of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, and are instead either out-of-date or are compiled by third-party testing.

In 1994, the first known ranking of smokeless tobacco nicotine levels was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in a study financed by the University of Alabama - Birmingham. The study determined the nicotine content as a percentage of the product's dry weight. Analysts determined a content above 2% to be "high" and above 3% was considered "Very high". The study also determined that although smokeless tobacco had more nicotine, the amount consumed per day by all tobacco consumers was consistent and ranged between 20 and 25 milligrams. Dr. Tomar also said that it was not possible to know the amount absorbed without knowing the product's pH. A product with a higher pH (more alkaline) increases the absorption through mucous tissues.
 * Skoal Long Cut Wintergreen - 3.35%
 * Skoal Long Cut Straight - 3.33%
 * Copenhagen Snuff - 3.2%
 * average cigarette - 1.5-2.5%

2006-2007 Rankings
Products on the market in 2006 and 2007 were analyzed by scientists at R.J. Reynolds to determine the amount of nicotine and free nicotine. Many factors affect the absorption, such as the form (fine cut, long cut, pouched, loose leaf, powdered snuff), but a large impact is the pH of the product. Nicotine cannot be absorbed in acidic environments; such is the reason nicotine isn't consumed in beverages, or in any way in which digestion is needed. Nicotine in the table below is rated by mg per g.