This has been stated in a study conducted by the Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar. The study was conducted by faculty members of Department of Pharmacy, Zakiullah, Mohammad Saeed and Naveed Mohammad on the assessment of potential toxicity of Naswar sold in Pakistani market.

They took a total of thirty Pakistani brands of naswar, studied its effect on more than two hundred individuals and checked it for a variety of toxic constituents and carcinogens such as cadmium, arsenic, lead and other carcinogenic metals, nitrite and nitrate and nicotine.

The results of the study recorded a lifetime cancer risk from cadmium and lead which is a matter of great concern. Greater incidence of cancer of the oral cavity and esophagus were reported in individuals using naswar as well in the study.

It is also pertinent to note that oral cancer attributable to use of naswar are about fifty percent of the total oral cancer cases reported in Pakistan.

Similarly, the consumption of naswar has also been correlated with higher incidence of peptic ulcer disease. The researcher Zakullah said, the results of this study require that awareness should be raised in the general public regarding the use of naswar and its potential.

The study shows that production, packaging, sale and consumption of naswar should be regulated so as to protect the public from the health hazards associated with its consumption.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011