Chemicals in Cigarettes
There are over 4000 different chemicals in cigarette smoke. Scientists have identified that at least 43 of these cause cancer.
The chemicals in cigarettes are not only dangerous for your health, but it also affects the people around the smoker.
The four most well-known and dangerous chemicals are:
Nicotine
Nicotine is the most well known chemical in cigarettes. It’s the chemical or drug that’s responsible for the addictive nature of cigarettes and tobacco.
Nicotine stimulates the central nervous system. It produces feelings of pleasure, anxiety relief and wakefulness, reduces appetite and improves short-term memory and task performance.
But that’s not all the effects of nicotine. Nicotine’s negative effects on the body far outweigh any positive effects. Nicotine makes your body more susceptible to a host of circulatory problems by:
- Increasing your heart rate
- Increasing your blood pressure
- Constricts your blood vessels, causing your heart and arteries to work harder
- Reduces blood flow to your hands and feet
- Increases the risk of blood clots that can cause strokes or pulmonary embolisms
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide, the same chemical that comes out of your car is also in cigarettes and tobacco.
Carbon monoxide has a similar chemical structure as oxygen, and when inhaled, it takes the place of oxygen in the red blood cells. That leaves less oxygen circulating your blood stream and consequently, less oxygen for your body’s organs such as your muscles, heart and brain.
Your heart has to pump harder to supply the rest of your body with enough oxygen so your organs can function.
Carbon monoxide is the reason why smokers feel short of breath and easily over-exerted when exercising.
Tar
Tar is the given name for toxic, cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes. Tar forms a thick, black coating in your lungs, inhibiting efficient oxygen transfer and increasing your risk of developing lung cancer.
So what if you smoke low tar or light cigarettes? Would the risk of cancer be reduced?
Studies show that it doesn’t matter what type of cigarettes you smoke, the risk of developing lung cancer is the same. It’s believed that smokers take deeper puffs of low tar or light cigarettes to get enough nicotine (the addictive chemical) to satisfy their addiction.
The only way to reduce the risk of lung cancer is to quit smoking completely.
Phenols
Phenols are a large group organic chemicals used in a broad range of products such as disinfectants, detergents and fungicides and found in many natural compounds such as clove oil, neurotransmitters, hormones and much more. Not all phenolic compounds are bad for your health, but the phenols found in cigarettes certainly are.
The phenols in cigarettes and tobacco have been found to damage and destroy the delicate small hairs lining the airways of your lungs. Consider these small hairs as your body’s janitor for your lungs. They continually sweep debris and other unwanted substances out of your lungs.
When these small hairs are destroyed or damaged, the cleansing of your lungs is severely impaired, leaving your lungs vulnerable to irritants and other cancer causing chemicals.
May 30th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
When trying to quit smoking, I heard that there is a chemical in cigarettes that is actually the more addictive than actual nicotine. Is this correct and if so is it activated by certain chemicals or food products. Is there food or drinks you should avoid when trying to quit? I heard that certain foods activate cravings for this particular chemical, whatever that may be.
July 2nd, 2006 at 3:09 pm
HELLO I NAME IS STEVE FROM MALTA AND I HAVE 29 YEARS.
I START SMOKING WHEN I HAVE 9 YEARS
THIS IS MY FIRST MONTH WITHOUT SMOKING ITS HARD.
MY FHATHER WAS DIE WITH LUNGH CANCER PROBABLE WITH SIGARETS IN AGE OF 43.
THATS NOT NICE
I DONT WANT TO FOLLOW THE SAME MASTAKE OF MY FATHER
THANKS
BEST REGASRDS
STEVE BONNICI
October 24th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Well I thought there were more chemicals in cigarettes.
November 7th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Aren’t there any more chemicals found in cigarettes? If there are, please e-mail me some more of them
January 9th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
my name is destiny defries and i would like to tell everyone about my grandpa. my grandpa hasn’t smoked not even 1 time since 1999 and he started smoking when he was 18. i was 6 years old when he quite and i am so proud of him!and the way he quite was the most amazing part, he didn’t use special gum or pathes or pick up another habbit in the place of smoking .it was very difficult for him b/c he used to smoke one to 2 packs a day. but wat inspirred him to quite was my great grandma(his mom)who died of lung cancer in 1999 at age of 68. she developed lung cancer from smoking .but other ppl in my family smoke too. like my motherand my grandmother. they have tried to kick the habbit dozens of timez but failed.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:11 am
this was very helpful information for my assignment
May 22nd, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I would like to tell everyone how smoking has effected me.I have never smoked in my entire 14 yrs of life…but my grandfather smoked ciggarettes for most of his life.It wasnt until he found out he had cancer until he chose to quite.By that time it was too late..on Novemeber 15th 2001, my grandfather died from cancer.When he was living those last few dayz he had left he kept telling my aunts and unlces that were smokers at the time to please quite because he didnt want them to die at a such a young age from cancer and that smoking wasnt worth it anymore.Since then, my uncles have stopped except for one is still trying to stop,and my aunts have all stopped smoking.my grandpa was like my second dad,i used to visit him almost everyday when i was little,and for him not being able to see my dance recitals in the following yrs after he died just broke my heart.It took me 5 yrs to actually realize hes gone,but when groups like TATU( teens against tobacco use) come into class and discuss about drug prevention and then ask ppl if they wanna talk about how smoking has effected them,ive been able to talk about my grandpa..though ive gotten to some points where ive cried..i knw its tough for smokers to stop,but they need to try harder and just fight it..because in the end its all worth breaking that bad habbit!
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:40 am
My husbut and quit smoking ciggs in 1997, but he kept smoking Marijuana. Most people think that this is a harmless substitute, but I have heard that if you have cancer, Marijuana retards the process that keeps your body from growing tumors. So, in other words, smoking dope, encourages cancer.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Why don’t the the quit smoking organisations and goverments campain or order the tabaco industries to reduce or take out the cancerous chemicals from cigarettes, if the food industries did it they would be right on them, they shouldn’t worry about loosing customers and money as alot of people like to smoke anyway, i think the quit smoking companies are making alot of money because of us smokers so who is the good guy and the bad guy here.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
thankyou very very much for the infomation, it will help alot with my assignment
thanks again
December 5th, 2007 at 5:26 am
hello my name is hannah i am 14 years old i have smoked for just under 2 years i no im not that addicted but i dont have the guts to stop thankyou for reading me x
December 12th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
This is not right people who make cigarettes should be killed.
This should be out lawed.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
SMOKING IS BAD FOR U
December 19th, 2007 at 5:38 am
I LOVE NOKING NICKERS !!
December 20th, 2007 at 3:30 am
Hi my name is Sepehr and I am 13 years old, I have a really kind Grandma that smoked alot. She lived in Iran and i moved to Canada. When i visisted at grade 2 i told her to stop but she couldn’t. Last year on my visit i used the facts on this exact website to make her stop. She still didn’t lsten. After a few days back at Canada, she calls me and tells me she quited because she missed me very much and that i was right. So i thank this website so much for giving me these facts to tell my grandmother. I thank you so much. Another thing, thanks again but not for the grandmother thing, instead for my huge essay on smoking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 24th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
You should list all 4000 chemicals in the cigarette.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hi all,
I just want to say that its so easy to quit if you understand the reasons why we smoke.i listened to Allen Carrs ONLY WAY and found it easy and have enjoyed the freedom from the nicotine trap..thats what it is.We have been trapped by our up bringing,looking at our parents and society and think its ok,it helps us concentrate,it helps if we are bored,it relieves stress etc,these are all illusions and fake.cigarettes give nothing,only takes away…..I have done alot of research on the chemicals that the companies pump into “our friend”….Im so disgusted at the tolerance of our greedy gorvernments allowing this and collecting huge revenue from this evil addiction..Listen to Allen Carrs cds and check out what are in cigarettes and even so importantly check out how your poor heart and lungs,you lymphatic system,your mind/brain works and youll soon be asking yourself..do i need to do this???
Once you do youll have the greatest respect for your body,mind and soul…
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE AND SO MUCH TO GAIN..
Best wishes,
sunny owens.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
if you want to contact me my address is ztisunny@gmail.com