NITROSATED, ACYLATED, AND OXIDIZED PYRIDINE ALKALOIDS DURING STORAGE OF SMOKELESS TOBACCOS - EFFECTS OF MOISTURE, TEMPERATURE, AND THEIR INTERACTIONS

Each of three smokeless tobaccos was adjusted to two moisture levels before storage at two temperatures. Nitrosated, acylated, and oxidized alkaloids and nitrite in moist snuff and dry snuff generally accumulated at higher rates during storage up to 1 year at high moisture (ca. 50%) and high temperature (32-degrees-C) compared to the rates at low moisture (< 22%) and low temperature (24-degrees-C). Higher moisture compared to higher temperature resulted in larger increases of nitrosated and acylated alkaloid levels and nitrite. Putative parent alkaloids and nitrate in moist and dry snuffs generally decreased during storage intervals, especially under the high-moisture-high-temperature environments. Frequent interactions occurred between effects of moisture and temperature. Concentrations of parent, nitrosated and oxidized alkaloids, nitrite and nitrate in chewing tobacco did not differ during storage among treatments. The high sugar content of chewing tobacco may have inhibited change.