There has been a lot of discussion recently about the health effects of using snuff tobacco and using snuff as a nicotine substitute. Because the use of snuff has not been widespread over the recent decades there seems to be no conclusive evidence for or against nasal snuff due to the lack of a detailed study.

However, recently a report has emerged from Smokeless New Zealand, which shows how nasal snuff tobacco can substantially reduce health risks if used as a means to give up smoking.

There has only ever been 1 reported case of cancer from snuff use in the UK, which was from a farmer in Suffolk who managed to put snuff in his ear(!!!!) for 40 years and developed ear cancer - yes the mind boggles how and why he managed to do this. Additionally Wilson's of Sharrow claim that they have never had a health claim filed against them and they are the oldest snuffmakers in the UK.

This is, of course no proof that snuff is not harmful and further detailed studies are needed to prove this. However, in the British Medical Journal Volume 283 from 26th September 1981 some interesting results were reported. They reported that:

"Unlike tobacco smoke, snuff is free of tar and harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Since it cannot be inhaled into the lungs, there is no risk of lung cancer, bronchitis, and emphysema."

"The position with coronary heart disease is not clear. It is not known whether nicotine or carbon monoxide is the major culprit responsible for cigarette-induced coronary heart disease. If it is carbon monoxide a switch to snuff would reduce the risk substantially, but even if nicotine plays a part our results show that the intake from snuff is no greater than from smoking."

They went on to conclude that:

"the rapid absorption of nicotine from snuff confirms its potential as an acceptable substitute for smoking. Switching from cigarettes to snuff would substantially reduce the risk of lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly coronary heart disease as well, at the cost of a slight increase in the risk of cancer of the nasopharynx (or oral cavity in the case of wet snuff). Another advantage of snuff is that it does not contaminate the atmosphere for non-users." Read full article .....

However, to balance the argument our I refer you to Dr John Hill, who in 1761 reported on the association of nasal snuff with malignancy:
"Whether or not polypusses, which attend Snuff-takers, are absolutely caused by that custom; or whether the principles of the disorder were there before, and the Snuff only irritated the parts, and hastened the mischief, I shall not pretend to determine: but even supposing the latter only to be the case, the damage is certainly more than the indulgence is worth: for who is able to say, that the Snuff is not the absolute cause, or that he has not the seeds of such a disorder which Snuff will bring into action.

With respect to cancers of the nose, they are as dreadful and as fatal as any others... It is evident therefore that no man should venture upon Snuff, who is not sure that he is not so far liable to a cancer: and no man can be sure of that."

To make up your own mind I have compiled a list of relevant Snuff Health Articles for you to browse through.