- Carcinogens Benzene can be found in pesticides and gasoline. It is present in high levels in cigarette smoke and accounts for half. Formaldehyde is a chemical that, in liquid form, is used to preserve dead bodies. In gaseous form, it is responsible for. Vinyl chloride is a man-made chemical that.
- “Tobacco is clearly a source of fungal spores,” Paul Verweij of the University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.(1) The mycotoxins found in mold are not destroyed when tobacco is burned. They will transfer into the smoke, and the person smoking this mold infected tobacco will ingest these harmful, and potentially deadly toxins into their lungs where it will then enter their blood stream.
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Obtained from plants. List four cancer-causing substances found in tobacco products. Answers should include tar, carbon monoxide, arsenic, vinyl chloride, and/or formaldehyde. Explain how an individual's choice to use tobacco can have negative consequences for society.
2
Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae), predominantly in tobacco, and in lower quantities in tomato, potato, eggplant (aubergine), and green pepper.
Nicotine alkaloids are also found in the leaves of the coca plant.
Nicotine constitutes 0.3 to 5 percent of the tobacco plant by dry weight, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots, and accumulates in the leaves.
It is a potent neurotoxin and is included in many insecticides.
In lower concentrations, the substance acts as a stimulant and is one of the main factors responsible for the dependence-forming properties of tobacco smoking.
Note: The above text is excerpted from the Wikipedia article 'Nicotine', which has been released under the GNU Free Documentation License.
For more information, see the following related content on ScienceDaily:
2
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Monday 1 April 2019
The toxic and cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes harm you and those around you.
Cigarettes contain a lot more than just paper and tobacco.
Hidden within a single cigarette is a potent cocktail of poisonous chemicals.
It’s common knowledge that cigarettes are harmful, but do you know exactly what makes them so damaging to our bodies?
We’ve explored some of the chemicals in cigarettes and how they impact our health.
Cancer causing chemicals
Of the 4000+ chemicals present in cigarette smoke, more than 60 are carcinogens – or substances that can cause cancer. Of these, 11 are known to cause cancer in humans and eight are associated with cancer in humans.
The carcinogens in cigarettes include:
- Benzene: also found in gasoline and crude oil, and therefore in motor vehicle exhaust fumes
- Heavy metals andmetalloid compounds: including arsenic (a strong poison), chromium (used to manufacture dye, paints, and alloys), cadmium (found in batteries), beryllium (used in nuclear reactors), and nickel (used to make stainless steel)
- 2-naphthylamine and 4-aminobiphenyl: also found in hair dye, paint, fungicides, and plastics
- Vinyl chloride: also used to make PVC, which is found in plastic products
- Ethylene oxide: a man-made chemical also used in the production of antifreeze and polyester
- Polonium-210: a highly radioactive element, and one of the world’s most deadly compounds
- Nitrosamines: including a collection of carcinogens that are only found in tobacco smoke
We often think of lung cancer when we think of smoking, but the damage doesn’t stop there. Tobacco is linked to at least 16 types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, bladder, stomach, bowel, and blood.
Toxic chemicals
Beyond cancer, smoking is linked to a vast range of other serious diseases and health conditions.
The Addictive Drug Found In Tobacco Leaves
The toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke travel in our blood to our heart, brain, and every other organ and system in the body. That’s why smoking is associated with conditions as varied as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, lung disease, vision loss, dental issues, osteoporosis, erectile dysfunction, and reduced fertility.
Here are just some of the toxic chemicals found in cigarettes:
- Nicotine: a highly addictive and poisonous drug. It also causes the blood vessels to tighten, reducing blood flow and restricting the amount of oxygen and nutrients transported around the body.
- Carbon monoxide: also found incar exhaust fumes, thispoisonous gas takes the place of oxygen in your bloodstream.
- Formaldehyde: also used to preserve laboratory specimens, in embalming processes, and in the production of building materials, glue, pesticides, and fertilisers.
- Tar: refers to the solid particles that are created by burning tobacco. It builds up in the lungs and throat as a sticky, brown substance.
- Ammonia: also found in toilet cleaner and other household cleaning products.
Not to mention lead,acetone, hydrogen cyanide, toluene, phenol… the list is as long as it is terrifying!
Do filters make cigarettes less harmful?
No. Cigarettes with filters are just as harmful as those without filters.
Filters were originally added to cigarettes with the aim of reducing the amount of tar, toxins, and other particles from getting into the lungs. However, research has shown that they do not make cigarettes any less dangerous.
Most cigarettes in Australia have vented filters, or filters with tiny holes that allow more air to be drawn in with each puff. This mix of air and smoke can make it feel ‘easier’ on the throat. However, smokers may inhale more deeply to compensate for the aerating action of vented filters, leading to an increase in deadly cancers in the outer regions of the lungs.
On top of the countless health impacts of cigarettes, discarded cigarette filters (also known as cigarette butts) are damaging to the environment. Cigarette butts are the biggest contributor to litter in Australia, with a shocking 7 billion cigarette butts littered every year.
Are ‘light’ or ‘mild’ cigarettes better choices?
So-called ‘light’ or ‘mild’ cigarettes are simply other names for filtered cigarettes. These terms were found to be potentially misleading and deceptive, and are no longer used on cigarette products.
That’s because whether you smoke cigarettes with a stronger or weaker taste, the risk of smoking-related diseases is the same. Switching to ‘mild’ or weaker-tasting cigarettes doesn’t mean you’re inhaling fewer chemicals.
What about e-cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes, e-cigars, vape pens, and personal vaporisers are all smoking products. E-cigarettes can contain many of the same toxic chemicals that are found in traditional cigarettes, including nicotine, formaldehyde, and nitrosamines. E-cigarettes that contain liquid nicotine are illegal in Queensland.
In short, they are not harmless.
What if I smoke rollies or shisha?
Shisha, hookah, waterpipes, cigars, pipes, and hand-rolled cigarettes or ‘rollies’ all contain toxic and cancer-causing chemicals.
They are no less harmful, and may in fact increase your exposure to toxic chemicals. Compared with smoking a cigarette, in an average waterpipe session you’ll inhale 2-3 times more nicotine, 25 times more tar, and up to 50 times more lead.
It doesn’t just affect the smoker – everyone suffers
You don’t have to be the smoker to experience the harmful consequences of smoking.
Cancer-causing and toxic chemicals are found in second-hand smoke, which is a combination of:
- Mainstream smoke – exhaled by the smoker
- Side-stream smoke – released from the tip of the cigarette
Second-hand smoke can cause cancer. People who have never smoked a cigarette can experience the devastating consequences of smoking, particularly with prolonged exposure in the home. It’s especially harmful to babies, children, and pregnant women.
That means quitting isn’t just good for you alone – it’s good for your family, friends, colleagues, and everyone around you.
It’s never too late to quit
Yes, there’s a lot of nasty stuff in cigarettes. But we’ve got good news – quitting can improve your health no matter how long you’ve been smoking. Within hours of your last cigarette, your body starts to repair.
You don’t have to go it alone. Check out our tips for quitting smoking successfully, or visit Quit HQ.
Is Nicotine Found In Tobacco
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