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Though the biological properties of a chemical are suggestive of possible
health effects, the epidemiology shows the actual health effects. For an extended discussion of the toxicology
versus the epidemiology issue see this entry in our FAQ pages: http://www.tobaccoharmreduction.org/faq/healtheffectsofst.htm#37. What we know is that there is no
increase in overall cancer risk associated with the use of smokeless tobacco.
These angiogenetic properties of nicotine are still under
investigation. While it is conceivable that an already existing cancer (lung
or otherwise) could be facilitated by such a property, that is not the same
thing as initiating it. The fact that Stanford patented
the "use of nicotine for therapeutic angiogenesis" implies that
under some conditions this property could be beneficial.
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