ACCORDING to http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/
harmful-chemicals-in-cigarettes.html, tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 different chemicals.
“At least 43 are known carcinogens (cause cancer in humans),” it adds, quoting the Health Education Authority (UK) - Lifesaver, as the source.
The following are among the carcinogens in tobacco smoke:
Benzene (petrol additive)
A colourless cyclic hydrocarbon obtained from coal and petroleum, used as a solvent in fuel and in chemical manufacture - and contained in cigarette smoke. It is a known carcinogen and is associated with leukaemia.
Formaldehyde (embalming fluid)
A colourless liquid, highly poisonous, used to preserve dead bodies - also found in cigarette smoke. Known to cause cancer, respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal problems.
Ammonia (toilet cleaner)
Used as a flavouring; frees nicotine from tobacco turning it into a gas; found in dry cleaning fluids.
Acetone (nail polish remover)
Fragrant volatile liquid ketone; used as a solvent, for example, nail polish remover – found in cigarette smoke.
Tar
Particulate matter drawn into lungs when you inhale on a lighted cigarette. Once inhaled, smoke condenses and about 70% of the tar in the smoke is deposited in the smoker’s lungs.
Nicotine (insecticide/addictive drug)
One of the most addictive substances known to man; a powerful and fast-acting medical and non-medical poison. This is the chemical that causes addiction.
Carbon Monoxide (car exhaust fumes)
An odourless, tasteless and poisonous gas, rapidly fatal in large amounts – it’s the same gas that comes out of car exhausts and is the main gas in cigarette smoke, formed when the cigarette is lit.
Others you may recognise are :
Arsenic (rat poison),
Arsenic finds its way into cigarette smoke through some of the pesticides that are used in tobacco farming.
Cadmium
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that is used in batteries. Smokers typically have twice as much cadmium in their bodies as non-smokers.
Hydrogen Cyanide (gas chamber poison)
Hydrogen cyanide was used to kill people in the gas chambers in Nazi Germany during World War II.
See http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/harmful-chemicals-in-cigarettes.html and
http://quitsmoking.about.com/
od/chemicalsinsmoke/a/chemicalshub.htm for more details.
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