Zeitschrift für Gemeinde- und öffentliche Gesundheitspflege

Abstrakt

Characteristics of Maras Powder which is a Cultural Alternative to Cigarettes and its Effects on Health: A Literature Review

Tas F and Gungormus Z

Tobacco epidemic is defined as an important public problem in developed and developing countries. It is stated that the use of tobacco and tobacco products cause the death of one individual out of ten and that it takes one of the first places among preventable causes of death. Maras powder which is form of smokeless tobacco is achieved by mixing a tobacco type known as Nicotiana rustica Linn. and ash and it is in particular being used as an alternative to cigarettes or with cigarettes in the Mediterranean region in Turkey. Maras Powder is used by sniffing tobacco powder or sucking or chewing it by placing it between the gums and the cheek. The purpose of this literature compilation is to evaluate studies on the characteristics of maras powder and its effects on health and the results obtained in these studies. With this purpose science direct, cochrane library, ulakbim and “medline/pubmed” databases have been scanned and studies on this subject have been analyzed by searching for key words, “Smokeless tobacco/Maras powder,” “Smokeless tobacco” and “Maras powder.” In the analyzed studies, it has been seen that maras powder has been accepted as a tobacco product with law no: 4207 and that its production, sale and use in closed spaces has been banned. It has been determined that maras powder affects human health and that it has negative effects on biochemical, immunological and cardiovascular system.