Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Jul 15: A worrying surge in accidental nicotine poisoning cases among children under the age of six has been reported in the United States, with a new study highlighting a 763% rise in poisoning incidents from nicotine pouches over the past three years.

The study, published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, revealed that between 2010 and 2023, over 1.3 lac poisonings related to nicotine products were reported to US poison control centers — the vast majority involving young children and taking place inside homes.

While the list of harmful products includes cigarettes, vapes, chewing tobacco, and nicotine gums or lozenges, nicotine pouches like the widely sold Zyn have been identified as the main driver of the recent spike.

The exposure rate from nicotine pouches rose dramatically, from 0.48 per 100,000 children in 2020 to 4.14 in 2023, in parallel with a dramatic increase in pouch sales across the US These small, flavored pouches, which contain up to 6 mg of nicotine, are marketed as tobacco-free and hands-free alternatives but are not approved by the FDA as smoking cessation aids.

Health experts say young children, especially toddlers under the age of two, are at greatest risk. Curious by nature, they often mistake the brightly packaged, sweet-flavored pouches for candy. The study found that 76% of the poisoning cases involved children under age two, with two deaths confirmed due to ingestion of vape liquids.

“Nicotine can be extremely toxic for little children,” said Dr Molly O’Shea, a Michigan-based pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Even a small amount can lead to vomiting, seizures, or even coma. Two preventable deaths are two too many.”

Natalie Rine, lead author of the study and director of the Central Ohio Poison Center, noted that 39 children experienced severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing and seizures, though most cases were minor and didn’t require hospitalization.

Public health advocates have called for urgent reforms in packaging and public awareness. Despite company claims, many nicotine pouches still lack proper child-resistant packaging. Flavors like mint and fruit further increase the appeal to children.

“This study adds to growing concerns about the hidden dangers these nicotine products pose,” said Yolonda Richardson, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Parents, childcare providers, and healthcare workers need to be better informed.”

Experts advise locking up all nicotine products, not simply keeping them on countertops, in purses, or accessible drawers. They also stress the need for parents to engage in open, nonjudgmental conversations with teenagers, as a separate study revealed a doubling in the use of nicotine pouches among high schoolers between 2023 and 2024.

With nicotine-related poisonings now emerging as a growing threat to child health, medical professionals are urging both regulation and education to curb this avoidable crisis.