Children Under 6 Being Poisoned by Nicotine Pouches, New Study Finds
The most significant rise in accidental poisoning was caused by nicotine pouches
"It's easy to access, it tastes good, kids don't really know the difference — that could lead to more serious outcomes because they're getting a large dose very quickly," Natalie Rine, a study co-author, said of the pouches, per STAT NewsAs the range of nicotine products on the market continues to expand, a new study has found they are increasingly making their way into the hands of young children.
On Monday, July 14, a study based on calls to America's Poison Centers was published in Pediatrics that revealed 134,663 cases of kids under age 6 inadvertently ingested nicotine between 2010 and 2023, NBC News reported, citing the American Academy of Pediatrics.
While the form of the substance varied between products such as pouches, gum, tablets and e-cigarettes, almost all of the cases involved exposure to nicotine at home.
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Many of the children experienced nausea or vomiting, but two fatal instances involved children under the age of 2 dying after consuming liquid nicotine, STAT News reported.
'We don't want parents and caregivers to be led to a false sense of security that they aren't that harmful if most don't have a bad outcome,' said Natalie Rine, a study co-author and managing director of Central Ohio Poison Center, per the outlet.
The most significant rise in accidental poisoning in kids was caused by nicotine pouches, similar to the hugely popular Zyn, the study found.
The number of instances soared by 763% between 2020 and 2023, STAT News reported, citing the American Academy of Pediatrics. Ingesting nicotine in the form of a pouch was 1.5 times more likely to cause a serious health issue than other nicotine products.
'The pouches are highly concentrated products,' said Rine, per STAT News. 'The flavors are attractive too. So when you have something like that — it's easy to access, it tastes good, kids don't really know the difference — that could lead to more serious outcomes because they're getting a large dose very quickly.'
Zyn contains up to 6 milligrams of nicotine, while competitor varieties can be double the amount, according to STAT News. The risk of being poisoned is increased if children consume multiple pouches.
The outlet notes that a full tin of Zyn totals 90 milligrams of nicotine in comparison to a pack of cigarettes, averaging no more than 36 milligrams.
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Following the study, parents are advised to lock away their nicotine products rather than storing them in bags or cabinets where curious children may explore.
'For younger kids, when they see fun, brightly-colored packaging, they want to take a look and see what that is,' Rine said, per STAT News. 'Storage can help keep kids safe.'
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