Found In Cigarettes

Hydrogen cyanide is one of hundreds of chemicals found in the smoke of cigarettes. This particular chemical is both harmful to the smoker and to those who may inhale the second hand smoke that is present in the air. Hydrogen cyanide is most well known as a poison used as a gassing agent in World War Two called Zyklon B. In large concentrations, this poison will cause a rapid death by asphyxiation due to its ability to block oxygen from the cells causing immediate suffocation. In cigarette smoke, the concentration of hydrogen cyanide is much smaller but it still contributes to a number of health problems most commonly found in long term smokers or with those who work with this chemical in an industrial occupation.

Hydrogen cyanide is used in the manufacturing for many different materials including plastics, paper products, precious metal recovering, synthetic fiber processing and electroplating. People who work in the manufacturing process and are consistantly exposed to hydrogen cyanide will also exhibit the same symptoms and health problems as smokers.

In small concentrations, the effects of hydrogen cyanide exposure lead to problems of the central nervous system. These problems include: muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness and vomiting. Long term smokers and industrial workers will usually also exhibit heart palpitations and sleep apnea, gasping, shortness of breath, tremors, fainting, and thyroid problems. Thyroid problems caused by hydrogen cyanide exposure include the inability of the thyroid gland to properly absorb iodine. Individuals that have been exposed to higher concentrations of hydrogen cyanide that develop thyroid problems and cannot absorb iodine may develop goiters.

While small amounts of hydrogen cyanide will not cause immediate death, smokers are very slowly poisoning themselves with hydrogen cyanide with every puff of a cigarette. Although not classified as a carcinogen, hydrogen cyanide does cause other health problems that are just as detrimental to the health and overall well being of a person who smokes. A person who smokes will have a decreased lifespan of 10-15 years if they continue to smoke for long periods of time.

Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco are made from dried tobacco leaves. Other substances are added for flavor and to make smoking more pleasant. The smoke from these products is a complex mixture of chemicals produced by burning tobacco and its additives. Feb 26, 2018 'Considering the list of metals, toxic materials and lung-damaging materials found in e-cigarettes, these products are not a healthy product for teen consumption,' she said. Contraband cigarettes found hidden in God of Fortune figurines at Woodlands Checkpoint 1 of 3 Officers discovered a total of 11,285 cartons and 7,685 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes found hidden.

Cyanide is also present in plants that are eaten on a daily basis. A cyanide producing compound called linamarin is present naturally in Cassava (Manihot esculenta) which is a plant that produces a starchy root similar to a sweet potato and is staple in the diets of people living in tropical and sub-tropical countries all over the world. A specific protocol of preparations are performed to eliminate the linamarin to make this root safe to consume. But when steps are skipped or not performed carefully, the linamarin is left in the cassava and is metabolized by the body into metabolites of cyanide which will be introduced into the body. In countries where cassava is a mainstay, a condition known as konzo will be evident in the population especially after times of famine and drought. Konzo is a disorder caused by the ingestion of cyanide and causes weakness, lack of coordination and even paralysis of the lower limbs. Sadly, children are more susceptible to this type of cyanide poisoning due to their smaller body size and weight.

Continuing to smoke cigarettes even after learning about what exactly is present in the smoke that is being continuously inhaled is, unfortunately, a personal decision that has to be made by the smoker themselves. Knowing that a poisonous gas used as a genocidal agent of war in World War Two is slowly taking your own life should be enough of wake up call for most people.

Sources:

Stewart, Amy. Wicked Plants: The weed that killed Lincoln’s mother and other botanical atrocities. New York: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2009.

Carcinogens Found In Cigarettes

http://oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/pdf/74908.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750038.html

http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/nicotineinhaler/a/cyanide.htm

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/cassava.htm

Monday 1 April 2019

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

Chemicals Found In Cigarettes

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 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:

1. Mainstream smoke – exhaled by the smoker
2. 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.

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