Nicotine pouches aren't just growing in popularity — they're also growing in dangers for children, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
The research examined cases of children under 6 who accidentally ingested nicotine through products like vapes, gums and lozenges.
Most cases of nicotine poisoning that were examined in the study involved children under the age of 2 at home, according to the researchers.
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While most types of nicotine exposures decreased after 2016, poisonings from nicotine pouches surged by more than 760% between 2020 and 2023.
Nicotine pouch ingestion is more likely to be associated with serious medical outcomes and medical admission than other formulations combined, the researchers said.
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The pouches, which users temporarily place between their lip and gum, have grown increasingly popular with teens and young adults. According to the CDC, they've become the second-most-used nicotine product among young people.
Zyn, the only nicotine pouch authorized by the FDA, tells Scripps News that the agency noted that its packaging is designed to be child-resistant.
It added that 39% of its users are between the ages of 30 and 39, while 31% are aged 40 to 49 — with the remainder being 21-29 and 50 and over.
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