Toxins in Cigarette Smoke
Carcinogens Contained in Secondhand Smoke Can Cause Cancer
The list of materials is frightening, but despite aggressive anti-smoking campaigns young and old people alike continue to light up. Many of these poisons, pesticides and toxins can be found in chemicals that are normally stored in somebody's garage. It is widely known that cigarettes contain tar and nicotine, but that's only for starters. There are thousands of harmful substances contained in cigarette smoke and they pose significant dangers to smokers as well as non-smokers. Here's a closer look at how this smoke can affect adults and children.
The Dangers of Smoking
It's the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women. It's responsible for cancer of the larynx, esophagus and bladder. Exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to lung cancer and heart disease in non-smokers, as well as respiratory ailments in children. The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States has estimated that exposure to secondhand smoke causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths in non-smokers every year.
Cigarette smoking has also been suggested as a risk factor in the development of leukemia, cervical cancer and cancer in the adrenal gland. Nicotine is a prime ingredient in cigarettes and although it's not considered toxic, it's definitely addictive so it causes smokers to continue smoking, leading to severe and life threatening illnesses.
What are the Toxic Materials in Cigarette Smoke?
There's more than just tobacco. All of the following substances will be absorbed into the body while smoking and also into anyone who happens to be close by.
- Formaldehyde – Embalmers use this colorless liquid to preserve dead bodies. It's a potent carcinogen that causes gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.
- Benzene – It's a key component of pesticides and gasoline. It has been proven to cause leukemia.
- Arsenic – This is a highly toxic material commonly used as rat poison.
- Cadmium – This metal is used in the production of rechargeable batteries. Repeated exposure can damage the kidneys and also cause lung cancer.
- Toluene – It's an extremely harmful industrial solvent used mainly in paint thinner and nail varnish.
- Vinyl chloride – It's a manufactured substance and harmful to humans. This material is used to make plastic pipes, wire/cable coatings and packaging materials. Long-term exposure can lead to cancer of the liver.
- Carbon Monoxide – This is the same colorless gas that comes from car exhausts and can kill in large enough doses.
- Naphthalene – This is an ingredient in mothballs.
- Hydrogen Cyanide – Under the name of Zyklon B, this was used as an extermination gas during World War II and today is one of the most lethal elements in cigarettes.
- Methyl Isocyanate – This organic compound is used in the production of rubbers and adhesives. It's the same gas that killed thousands of people in a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India in 1984.
- Lead – This is a toxic metal that can seriously harm the brain, kidneys and red blood cells.
That's only eleven of the most well known chemical agents in cigarette smoke, but there are many more of them. None of these are listed on the packages containing cigarettes because there is no law that requires it.
How Can Somebody Avoid Cigarette Smoke?
Breathing cigarette smoke can cause dizziness and tightness in the chest. Young children living with a parent that smokes can experience repeated ear infections and asthma. There are three places where secondhand smoke can be a problem. They are the home, the office and public places.
If somebody in the family smokes, insist they do it outside. Never allow anyone to smoke in a child's bedroom. Open windows and air conditioners will not clear the air of the small particles that stay behind even after the visible smoke is gone.
Likewise, big ventilation machines in office buildings will not get rid of secondhand smoke completely, so workers will have to demand the workplace be kept smoke free. If no such policy exists, work with supervisors and the management to create one.
Eat in restaurants that have a strict no smoking policy. Avoid smoking in the car so pull over and do it outside.
Secondhand and thirdhand smoke can be dangerous to everyone in the family. Visit a doctor's office and discuss ways to kick the habit forever. Considering the hazardous nature of cigarette smoke, quitting is the most sensible thing anyone can do to avoid getting sick.
Sources
The Mayo Clinic
Clinical Toxicology: Principles and Mechanisms by Frank A. Barile, Informa HealthCare, 2003
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders. Washington D.C. 1992
Cigarette Smoke Poses Dire Health Risks
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