Nicotine poisoning rises in babies and toddlers: Study

(NewsNation) — Poison control centers are sounding the alarm on nicotine pouches as the number of young children accidentally ingesting them rises.

According to a study published in the medical journal Pediatrics, calls to poison control centers that involved children under the age of 6 with nicotine poisoning rose by over 760% between 2020 and 2023. Nearly all cases happened at home.

While cases included chewing tobacco, vapes and nicotine replacements such as gum and lozenges, authors of the study pointed to the rising popularity of flavored nicotine pouches as the driving force behind accidental nicotine poisonings.

The levels of nicotine in pouches can vary from 3 to 12 milligrams per pouch. At the lowest doses, it can release more nicotine than a cigarette, and even that small amount can be dangerous to children. Some minor symptoms of nicotine poisoning include nausea and vomiting, but as the dose increases, more serious side effects include high blood pressure and a fast heart rate, which can lead to seizures and respiratory failure.

Although the vast majority of nicotine ingestions in children resulted in little to no harm, the study found that more than 1,600 children had serious medical outcomes. Two 1-year-old boys died after ingesting liquid nicotine.

To keep children safe, the study authors recommend not using nicotine pouches in front of children so they don't imitate the behavior, and keeping them out of reach. If they ingest a nicotine pouch, the best thing to do is call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.