Carcinogenic elements found in local Mumbai tobacco; reveals expert

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According to World Health Organisation, nearly 267 million (15 years and above) Indians consume tobacco on a daily basis. The most commonly used form of tobacco use in India is smokeless tobacco and commonly used products are masher, khaini, gutkha, betel quid with tobacco and zarda. Midday.com spoke to Dr. Kamlesh Pandey, consultant chest physician, Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road to learn about the ill-effects of consuming masher.

How rampant is the consumption of masheri?
Tobacco consumption is a major public health concern and a risk factor for causes of death in the country. Many people, including women, use masheri which invites a plethora of health problems. Carcinogenic and cocarcinogenic constituents of masheri are harmful to health. Masheri is the most common form of tobacco used, followed by chewing tobacco. It is the need of the hour to quit using masheri and lead a healthy life.

How is masheri prepared and consumed?
Masheri is prepared by roasting tobacco leaves, the principal constituent being alkaloid nicotine in 1 to 7%. Masheri is made from tobacco. It should not be used for cleaning teeth as it takes a toll on the mouth's soft and hard tissues. The use of tobacco can invite serious problems like oral cancer, and gum disease. It is better to avoid masheri and avoid severe health complications. Since it contains many chemicals, it is a good idea to stay away from it.

What are the ill-effects of consuming masheri?
Tobacco consumption is rapidly increasing in the country. Masheri consumption increases the risk of heart disease causing a stroke or heart attack. Oropharyngeal cancer is on the rise due to the use of masheri. Masheri is the smokeless form of tobacco, containing teeth-cleaning powder. You will find many women using it on a daily basis and it contains tobacco leaves.

Tobacco is loaded with toxic and carcinogenic chemicals which can cause cancer, oral cancer, mouth and throat cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay. It can also be harmful to the reproductive health of women. It can induce infertility and pregnancy problems. Apart from that, tobacco can lead to respiratory problems such as bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

It is better to understand the ill effects of masheri by consulting the doctor and avoiding it as soon as possible. Doing so can ensure you stay healthy and improve your quality of life. You need to know about the ingredients present in any product before using it on a daily basis.

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