Tobacco powder is ground product of Nicotina Eabacum leaves. It is taken by inhalation through the nostril or by tucking it between the lower lips and the gum. Six genera of bacteria were isolated from seventy samples of powdered tobacco snuff collected form seven different location in Enugu Urban. The samples were collected using sterilized bijou bottles and were analysed using cultural and microscopic methods. The bacteria genera identified were Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Esherichia, Enterobacter, Proteus and bacillus. The source of there contamination can be through exposure to the soil, dust, during growth, processing, storage and consumption. They unavailable get contaminated thus there is no line of its processing that can be 100% bacteriological hygienic. Some of these organism are as human pathogen while other exist as common saprophyte.
3.1 Collection of Tobacco Powder Samples 10
References 33
Tobacco powder is a finely ground tobacco product taken by inhalation through the nose or by tucking it between the lower lips and the gum Tansery (1975. Tobacco plant, Nicotina tabacum is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics. In Nigeria tobacco plantation are scattered all over the savanna areas of the country. Tobacco product include snuff, cigars, cigarettes and flavoured tobacco leaves that are readily available in all most all Nigeria market Ogundaro (1980)
There are various processes involved in the manufacturing of the powder. However in Nigeria the powder is produced by grinding the cured tobacco leaves with locally made mortal or by mechanical grinding Ogundaro (1980). It could be mixed with potash depending on people’s culture. This enhances flavour quality of the tobacco powder.
In United States of American tobacco powder is produced from dark air cured and fire cure types of leaf. It involves steaming of he leaves, chopping the leaves and packaging in hogshead or other container for fermentation to take place. This process requires about two months for completion. After fermentation the tobacco looses the creasote – like odour and becomes more aromatic the product is then dried by passing through heated container finally reduced to powdered form by using steel drums fitted with rotating rollers.
This work is aimed at determining the presence of pathogenic and other bacteria in tobacco powder sold in Enugu Urban.
To educate masses on the danger/health implication of taking contaminated tobacco powder.
The presence of bacteria in snuff can be due to contamination during the process of grinding, which is however not done aseptically in Nigeria. Some of these bacteria are present as Staphylococcus. Some of these Streptococcus under favourable condition will grow producing disease in consumers with impaired immune system, old people or middle aged group with Lowered Immunity.
H2: The level of bacteria in tobacco powder is enough to cause disease
H3: The level of bacteria in tobacco powder is not enough to causes disease.
This work is limited to microbiological examination of powdered Tobacco Sold in Enugu Urban for the presence pathogenic bacteria.
To enlighten snuff handler and consumer on the dangers of improper handling of tobacco powder.
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