What’s in cigarette smoke
There are 4000 chemicals in one cigarette. Here are a few of them
Acetone
A fragrant volatile ketone used as a solvent such as nail polish remover.
Ammonia
A caustic agent used in fertilisers, dry cleaning fluid and bathroom cleaners. It is added to cigarettes to boost flavour. Some studies suggest it is also used to make nicotine more addictive. Ammonia can make people more susceptible to viral illness and aggravate chronic respiratory conditions.
Benzene
Benzene is a colourless cyclic hydrocarbon obtained from coal and petroleum. It is used as an industrial solvent (dyes, synthetics and rubbers ), and in fuel. It is known to cause cancer in humans and is particularly associated with leukaemia.
Cadmium
A highly poisonous metal, used to make batteries. It causes liver, kidney and brain damage, and is more dangerous when inhaled than when ingested.
Carbon Monoxide
This is an odourless, colourless, poisonous gas that is lethal in large doses, carbon monoxide causes increased heart rate and shortness of breath. This is because carbon monoxide attaches itself to red blood cells and hinders the blood's ability to carry oxygen. In heavy smokers up to 15% of this blood may be carrying carbon monoxide, at any time, instead of oxygen. It is the main gas present in cigarette smoke where it is found at more than 500 times the concentration considered safe in industrial plants.
Formaldehyde
A colourless, highly poisonous liquid used to preserve dead bodies. This chemical is known to cause cancer and causes respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal problems.
Lead
Lead is a highly toxic, heavy metal. It can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells. It is also particularly dangerous to babies and young children, causing birth defects and learning difficulties.
Nicotine
Nicotine is the chemical that makes cigarettes addictive. Many studies suggest that it is as addictive as heroin and cocaine. When you drag on a cigarette, the nicotine is absorbed into the blood, 7 seconds later it reaches your brain and you get a 'hit'. This causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and hormonal production, changes in metabolism and constriction of blood vessels. Large doses are extremely poisonous – 60mg placed on a person’s tongue could kill within minutes.
Tar
When cigarette smoke is inhaled it condenses and deposits tar in the lungs. It is the tar that actually transports the other chemicals contained in cigarette smoke directly in the body. Tar is a brown treacly substance that paralyses the cilla (small hairs which protect and clean the lungs) and can also stain teeth and fingernails. A pack-a-day smoker pours about eight ounces (one full cup of tar) into their lungs each year.
Shellac
Shellac is an unusual chemical which begins life as an insect cocoon on a tree in South-East Asia. When mixed with denatured alcohol, the resin becomes wood varnish – it’s also found in cigarette smoke.
Hydrogen Cyanide
A colourless gas and one of the most toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Short-term exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.