Whether in the leaves of the tobacco plant, especially in the species Nicotiana tabacum, in other genera of the nightshade family, or even in so-called morning glories – nicotine naturally occurs in a variety of plants. As is well known, cigarettes contain tobacco, specifically the dried leaves of the tobacco plant (Virginia tobacco), which are cut and used to make cigarettes. Depending on the type, the nicotine content of a single cigarette can vary. So, the question arises: How many milligrams of nicotine are in a cigarette? Additionally, how much mg of nicotine is contained in chewing tobacco and snus? And what about tobacco-free nicotine pouches? Also: Does the nicotine content of a given product truly reflect the amount absorbed by the body during use?
How many mg of nicotine are in a cigarette?
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The nicotine in cigarettes occurs naturally – as found in the leaves of the tobacco plant. © Image: AdobeStock |
Typically, about 0.7 grams of dried tobacco are used per cigarette. Assuming that dried tobacco contains between 0.6 and 2.9 percent nicotine – which is a common estimate*1 – a single cigarette contains approximately 4 to 20 mg of nicotine.
How much nicotine is in chewing tobacco and snus?
Tobacco and therefore nicotine can also be enjoyed in chewable/suckable form – with a key difference between chewing tobacco and traditional snus. The former contains cut tobacco, while the latter uses finely ground tobacco. Since both are available in pre-portioned pouches, either in a slim format with less content or a large pouch format with more, the nicotine content depends on both the tobacco strength and the fill weight of the pouch.
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Traditional snus contains tobacco and thus nicotine, as found in the leaves of the tobacco plant. - © Image: AdobeStock |
A chewing tobacco or snus variety with a strength of 20 mg of nicotine per gram and a large pouch size with 1 gram of fill weight therefore contains 20 mg of nicotine. This corresponds to the content of a strong cigarette.
As with cigarettes, the strength levels of chewing tobacco and snus can vary significantly, which in turn influences the nicotine content per pouch. Common strengths range from 5 to 50 mg/g. Assuming a typical slim format with 0.7 grams of fill weight, the nicotine content per pouch varies between 3.5 and 35 mg. The latter clearly exceeds the maximum nicotine content of a cigarette.
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View allHow much nicotine do nicotine pouches contain?
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Nicotine pouches contain nicotine extracted from tobacco leaves, which is added during production. - © Image: AdobeStock |
Nicotine pouches are considered an innovative tobacco-free alternative to traditional Swedish snus and chewing tobacco, with nicotine content that can vary greatly, just like tobacco-based snus. Again, pouch size (actual content) and product strength determine how many mg of nicotine are in a portion. Here too, the nicotine content per portion typically ranges from 3.5 to 35 mg.
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View allIn some EU member states, there are specific legal limits for nicotine per gram (mg/g), based on applicable legislation. For example, in Austria, the legal classification of chemicals sets a maximum nicotine content of 16.7 mg/g for retail sale to consumers.*2 Therefore, in the earlier example with 0.7 grams fill weight, products with up to 11.69 mg nicotine per pouch would be permitted. However, since the Austrian regulation only sets mg/g limits, nicotine pouches with a pouch weight of e.g. 1.3 grams could still contain 21.71 mg nicotine per portion without being considered non-compliant.
>> Read also: Tobacco Directive in the new EU Commission: The future of snus and nicotine pouches
Whether it's a cigarette, chewing tobacco, snus, or a nicotine pouch – the higher the nicotine content in each case, the more nicotine – one might conclude – is absorbed by the body during use. But does the actual amount of nicotine absorbed correspond to the nicotine content of the product? Or is only a portion of it actually absorbed through consumption? These questions are essential if we want to infer product potency from nicotine content or if smokers want to determine which snus strengths suit them best.
How much nicotine is absorbed when using a cigarette, snus, or nicotine pouch?
For cigarettes, the nicotine contained in the smoke is the basis for measuring how much is absorbed. For snus and nicotine pouches, it's the nicotine released from the pouch. In all these cases, only a portion of the nicotine in the product actually enters the body – not the entire amount. For example, not all the nicotine in a cigarette reaches the body when smoking. Rather, the amount in the smoke represents a fraction of the total nicotine – much of it is burned off, and only a small part is inhaled and absorbed.
How much nicotine is absorbed when smoking a cigarette?
Common estimates suggest that a smoker absorbs between 1–1.5 mg of nicotine per cigarette via the smoke.*3 That means, on average, a smoker takes in about this amount per cigarette. However, this depends greatly on how the cigarette is smoked – whether deeply inhaled or just puffed – so 1–1.5 mg should be seen as rough guidelines. And as mentioned earlier, the nicotine content per gram of tobacco varies depending on the tobacco's strength. Whether one smokes a cigarette with 20 mg or 4 mg of nicotine will ultimately impact how much is absorbed.
How much nicotine is absorbed through snus?
Unlike smoking, nicotine from snus is primarily absorbed through the oral mucosa. What matters here is how much nicotine is released from the pouch during the usage period. Both the release speed and the duration of use are important. The former is influenced by factors like pouch moisture; the latter typically averages around 30 minutes.
>> Read more: Snus effects & what influences its strength
According to a Swedish study investigating the pharmacokinetics of nicotine in nicotine pouches, values were also reported for the amount of nicotine released from traditional snus pouches. For example, for a pouch containing 8 mg of nicotine, only 32% of the nicotine was released after 60 minutes of use.*4 A second test in the same study confirmed this – about 33% for a Swedish snus pouch with the same nicotine content (8 mg/pouch).*5
So, in that Swedish study, a snus pouch with 8 mg of nicotine released around 2.5 mg after 60 minutes – and this forms the basis for the actual nicotine the body can absorb. Given that the average usage time is 30 minutes, we can assume that less nicotine will be released in that time – meaning that the nicotine uptake from such a pouch will be somewhat lower.
Therefore, for snus, both the consumption time and nicotine per pouch (mg/pouch) play a role in how much is actually absorbed. Snus with higher nicotine content will release more nicotine for absorption.
This raises the question: Do similar values apply to nicotine pouches?
How much nicotine is absorbed from a nicotine pouch?
In the case of nicotine pouches – and referencing the previously mentioned Swedish study – nicotine release during use appears to be significantly higher and faster. According to the BfR regarding that very study:
"The pharmacokinetics of nicotine from nicotine pouches were examined in a recent study from Sweden [17]. In this manufacturer-funded study, three different nicotine strengths were tested in two parts (3 and 6 mg nicotine/pouch in the first part, and 8 mg nicotine/pouch in the second). For comparison, snus (weight: one gram per pouch, 8 mg nicotine/pouch) was tested in the first part. The subjects (n = 17) placed a pouch between their upper lip and gum and removed it after 60 minutes. Blood samples were taken at the beginning, at several time points during use, and up to five hours after removal, and analyzed for plasma nicotine concentration. The used pouches were examined for remaining nicotine content. The authors calculated nicotine extraction. While the extraction for the 3-mg and 6-mg dosages was 56% and 59%, only 32% could be extracted from the snus [...]"*6
In a second part of the Swedish study, the nicotine extraction from 8 mg nicotine pouches was found to be 50%, whereas only 33% of the nicotine in the Swedish snus was released.*7 This supports the assumption that nicotine pouches can release more of their nicotine content during use.
However, such findings alone may not justify a general statement that nicotine pouches always lead to higher nicotine absorption, as there are now innovative White Snus products using so-called Nicotine Polacrilex, designed to offer controlled and slow release – similar to nicotine gums. For those interested in this modern pouch formulation with regulated nicotine uptake, the following brand may be worth exploring:
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View allWhich nicotine strength in snus is suitable for smokers?
Based on the previous insights, it’s now possible to determine what smokers (especially those intending to quit) should consider when choosing the right nicotine strength in snus. It's not just the nicotine content in the product that influences the actual amount absorbed. Rather, the pouch composition – especially its moisture – seems to play a key role in determining how much nicotine the body can absorb.
Some snus/nicotine pouch brands are known for their specific effect profile, often involving an initial spike. Therefore, in addition to pouch moisture, the product’s pH value is also a crucial factor in how quickly and how much nicotine can be absorbed from the pouch.
>> Read more: Nicotine salt, free-base nicotine, and resinate – three common forms in tobacco-free pouches
So, when choosing the appropriate nicotine strength in snus or nicotine pouches, one should not only consider the nicotine content but also review product descriptions and user reviews related to product strength. For smokers looking to quit, depending on their previous smoking habits, strong and extra strong snus options may be a good choice.
>> A helpful guide for selecting the right product can be found here: How to find the right nicotine pouch and snus
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Sources (last accessed: 27/03/2025):
*1 See: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotin
*2 See: https://www.wko.at/oe/handel/arzneimittel-drogerie-parfuemerie/merkblatt-nikotinhaltige-gemische.pdf
*3,4,6 See: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/gesundheitliche-bewertung-von-nikotinbeuteln-nikotinpouches.pdf, p.10
*5,7 See: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/gesundheitliche-bewertung-von-nikotinbeuteln-nikotinpouches.pdf, p.11
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