Zyn , a popular brand of nicotine pouches , is fast gaining popularity among youth, considering it's tobacco-free and deemed 'safe' for health. The Internet is full of 'zynfluencers' who tuck in a pouch into their upper lip before going to school, work or gym, inadvertently encouraging their use among the impressionable population. As they are smoke-free, many wouldn't suspect the adverse effects these pouches could have on health.

Typically sold in 3 mg and 6 mg doses, the pouches deliver nicotine directly into the bloodstream through the mouth's membrane lining, rather than through the lungs. They are placed between the lip and gum, often under the upper lip. They are similarly to snus, an oral pouch, but instead of tobacco leaf, they have nicotine powder.

When it's placed inside the mouth, the nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream through mucous membranes in the mouth. They come in different flavours and have fillers, sweeteners, flavors, and preservatives.

Ingredients in Zyn
Zyn has white powdered nicotine, according to the National Library of Medicine apart from food-grade additives, fillers, a stabilizer (hydroxypropyl cellulose), pH adjusters, noncaloric sweeteners, and flavorings, national library in Bethesda, Maryland mentioned.

Risks of Zyn and other nicotine pouches

They can be highly addictive and over time can affect the heart health, cause gum damage, and nausea. The variety of flavors they come in be it peppermint, coffee, and citrus, add to their appeal, especially among kids and adolescents.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, nicotine pouches were the second-most popular form of tobacco children admitted to using.

Nicotine pouches are considered a safer alternative for smokers who want to quit smoking, as they do not have tobacco leaves and fewer carcinogens. But it's quite risky for children, teenagers or other non-smokers who could consider them harmless and inadvertently get addicted and eventually face the terrible side effects.

According to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Vaughan Rees, nicotine pouches may help adult smokers quit, but they could also unintentionally encourage young people to start using a nicotine product.

However, just because they are free from tobacco, doesn't mean they are without health risks .

“Zyn presents significantly lower health risks than smoking, because it does not contain cancer-causing chemicals and other toxic substances found in cigarette smoke. So Zyn may offer adult smokers who have not been able to quit smoking a way to reduce their exposure to the toxic chemicals that cause disease, including cancer," says Rees, senior lecturer on social and behavioral sciences and director of the Center for Global Tobacco Control.

The owners of Zyn, tobacco company Swedish Match , told TMZ in a statement, "Swedish Match appreciates its loyal consumers and encourages them not to show the product in any situation where someone under 21 years old could see it."

Adverse health effects

Use of nicotine pouches is linked to increased heart rate and blood pressure, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and heart attacks. The side effects as per WebMD also include hiccups, gum irritation, nicotine addiction , sore mouth, and upset stomach.

Long term use of nicotine is associated with heart, lung, stomach, and fertility problems, raising blood pressure, and weakening your immune system. It could harden artery walls, increasing risk of heart attack. It may also have withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit it.