Highly Concentrated Nicotine 167 Times the Lethal Dose Sold on Online Shopping Malls

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Highly concentrated nicotine stock is a dangerous substance with the potential to be abused in crimes. However, it has been confirmed that products containing more than 160 times the lethal dose for an adult in a single bottle are openly being sold online.

For Morning Zoom-In, here is Reporter Ha Jeongyeon.

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In 2017, a man in his 20s murdered his wife during their honeymoon by injecting a lethal dose of nicotine, driven by the motive of collecting insurance payouts.

This same man had also attempted to murder his ex-girlfriend in 2016 by making her drink a hangover relief beverage mixed with concentrated nicotine.

Following these nicotine-related crimes, the government at the time introduced stricter management measures for importers.

However, it was recently confirmed that highly concentrated nicotine stock, advertised as 99.9% pure, is openly being sold on online shopping malls.

The companies advertise that there are no problems because the products are distributed under the Chemicals Control Act, claiming they are not subject to regulations under the Tobacco Business Act.

This is the nicotine stock I received after placing an online order.

You can also order items like glycerin and flavorings alongside it, which e-cigarette users reportedly mix to create homemade liquid e-cigarettes, a process commonly referred to as gimjang.

A 10ml bottle contains a staggering 10,000mg of nicotine.

This exceeds 160 times the adult lethal dose of 40 to 60mg.

Because it is colorless and odorless and hard to distinguish from water, exposure through the skin alone is extremely dangerous, requiring exceptional care during handling.

The revised Tobacco Business Act, which took effect in April, legally classifies liquid e-cigarettes using synthetic nicotine as tobacco, prohibiting their online sale, ordering, and delivery.

The problem is that nicotine stock, rather than finished products, is not yet included in the regulatory scope, leaving it in a legal blind spot.

[Interview / Heo Jong-sik / National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee Member (Democratic Party): Nicotine stock is a truly dangerous substance capable of taking human lives. We need to inspect the distribution status of this...]

An official from the Ministry of Economy and Finance told SBS, "Since the revised law was implemented only recently, we are in the process of establishing relevant standards," and added, "We are also reviewing regulations on nicotine stock and other related items."

(Photo courtesy of SBS | Video by Shin Dong-hwan and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Park Sun-soo | Graphics by Cho Su-in)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.