How long does nicotine stay in the body?

Tobacco products such as cigarettes, snuff or snus contain nicotine because it is found in the tobacco plant. When ingested, nicotine triggers chemical reactions in the brain after just a few seconds, such as a stimulating effect on the body or an increase in attention. 

In this blog article, we want to take a close look at how long nicotine stays in the body and when the breakdown begins. In addition, we will briefly explain how much nicotine is absorbed through smoking, vaping or snorting.

How can nicotine be detected in the body?

When the body absorbs nicotine, the substance travels through some organs and not only the lungs are affected. A large part is broken down in the kidneys. During the breakdown, the body converts nicotine into cotinine. Cotinine is a metabolic product of nicotine and can be detected by laboratory tests in the blood, urine or saliva. 

The concentration of cotinine depends on how long and how much one smokes. The most reliable test is the measurement of the cotinine level in the blood.

How long does nicotine stay in the body?

On average, the body needs up to eight hours after a cigarette to break down nicotine. In regular smokers, cotinine can still be detected ten to thirty days after quitting smoking. 

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that cotinine levels in occasional smokers decreased to normal levels comparable to non-smokers after about four days. According to the study, the cotinine concentration went from 294 ng/ml down to 10 ng/ml on the fourth day in all participants.

How long is nicotine detectable in the blood?

As already mentioned, the blood test is the most reliable test to detect nicotine in the body. The average value here was also around ten days.

How can the dismantling be accelerated?

To help the body break down nicotine more quickly, there are a few ways to speed up the process. Of course, you should stop smoking first and give your body a break. Exercise in the fresh air, for example, helps to get nicotine out of the bloodstream faster, because exercise boosts the metabolism. 

Healthy foods are also a good way to reduce nicotine levels. A balanced diet helps the body to regenerate itself. 

How much nicotine is in cigarettes, e-cigarettes and snus?

A cigarette has an average of 7 to 20 mg/g nicotine, the exact content depends on the brand. However, the body does not absorb the entire nicotine content, but only 1 to 2 mg/g per cigarette. The situation is similar with e-cigarettes, which contain an average of about 20 mg/g nicotine. Here, too, not the entire amount is absorbed, but only a small percentage. 

The nicotine content of snus varies greatly depending on the brand. One of the strongest brands on the snus market is ¡VALE! Iced-Mint Tobacco WDP with a nicotine content of 45 mg/g. On average, most products have around 7 to 10 mg/g nicotine, such as General XRANGE Strong WP Slim with 14 mg/g nicotine. There are even snus products that are completely nicotine-free, such as edel CBD Mint. 

The body does not absorb all the nicotine, but on average about 30% of the effective nicotine content in tobacco snus and about 50% in all-white snus.

Conclusion

How long nicotine can be detected in the body depends on the length and amount of smoking. In heavy smokers, nicotine can be detected in the blood, saliva or urine for about 10 to 30 days after quitting smoking; in occasional smokers, the body needs an average of four days to bring the concentration to a normal level.