The top 10 worst ingredients in cigarettes were identified in a list submitted to the United States Department of Health and Human Services during 1994.
The list includes 599 additives and since burning alters the chemical compositions, more than 4 thousand are created when cigarette is burned, impacting on you and those around you.
Among the most hazardous ingredients in cigarettes are the following:
1. Nicotine – one of the most important ingredient in cigarettes
Nicotine is an addictive psychoactive alkaloid. It is the primary compound in a cigarette. Since it is a stimulant, it increases blood pressure and constricts veins and arteries. It prompts the body to release cholesterol and fat into the bloodstream, and may lead to the development of blood clots.
2. Benzene
This is a carcinogen substance. It increases the possibility of developing leukemia In addition, it damages the central nervous system and can lead to a variety of health problems. Among them are paralysis, convulsions, tremors, dizziness, coma, sleepiness, tightness in the chest, anemia and bone marrow damage.
3. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is colorless odorless and taste-less. This gas is used to preserve dead bodies. When a cigarette is burned, formaldehyde is synthesized. It is responsible for eye, nose, and throat irritations. It can also cause nausea, wheezing, skin irritations and nasal cancer.
4. Arsenic
This is one of the toxic chemicals commonly used in rat poisons. Pesticides that are commonly used on tobacco farms leech arsenic into the plants. Potential health effects include cancer of the kidneys, liver, bladder, skin and lungs.
5. Cadmium
Cadmium is a poisonous heavy metal which is present in cigarette smoke. People who smoke have twice the levels of cadmium in their bodies as compared to non-smokers. Health risks include nausea, vomiting, renal failure, shock, convulsions, muscle cramps and sensory disruptions.
6. Ammonia
Ammonia is a toxic ingredient found in fertilizers and cleaning products. It is incorporated into cigarettes in order to enhance the effects of nicotine. Its potential effects on health include damage to the lungs as well as death.
7. Hydrogen cyanide
Which is a toxic compound used during the manufacture of paper, plastic, and textiles. This poisonous chemical was used by the Nazi soldiers in the deadly gas chambers during World War II. Potential health risks include headaches, weakness, dizziness, seizures, irregular heartbeats, fainting, vomiting and death.
8. Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a lethal compound which is present in car exhaust. Very high concentrations are contained in cigarettes. Among its health hazards are chest pain, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, nausea, disorientation, loss of consciousness and death.
9. TSNA
This is a compound composed of four carcinogenic chemicals. Its hazards to health include cancer of the mouth, pancreas, lungs, esophagus and liver.
10. Polonium and lead
These 2 ingredients are among the radioactive chemicals in cigarette smoke. These toxic metals stick to cigarette tar and cause radioactive hot-spots to develop in the lungs. Ultimately, it can cause lung cancer.
THESE INGREDIENTS ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. NUMEROUS OTHER TOXINS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THEY INCLUDE CHEMICALS PRESENT IN ROLLED CIGARETTES, AS WELL AS THOSE WHICH ARE SYNTHESIZED THROUGH THE BURNING PROCESS.
59 comments:
why do the fda allow these to be put in or on tabaco cigerettes ?????
Good question, cigarettes should be illegal!!!
I agree!
Have you checked how many of these chemicals are in the food you eat? Some of them are naturally occuring in common foods and some are added to foods as a preservative in order to make sure your frozen meals are still kicking 10 years from now. Have you seen the ingredients in soda? Nasty nasty stuff, but millions still drink it, daily! You put in your body what you would like and let others do the same. Free will, it's a beautiful thing. And just to clarify...I'm a non-smoker.
I think no matter what you do or eat, you are still subject to so many deadly and hazardeous products you are going to die from something, heck, ( to clarify) I am a smoker and if I wanna damage my health that is souly up to me. and if they were to outlaw cigarettes the should do the same with alcohol and cleaning products as well, do you really wanna down so much, that is being shallow, what ppl do is their business
But we have to eat to stay alive ,no one has to smoke to live
this is probally not real
I'm just wondering why they would put all the additives, as it stated at the beginning, nicotine is addictive,so why add all the other killer poisons. The nicotine is enough to make you want more,so why add stuff that will kill your buyers...
umm carbon monoxide can't be added. It's a gas and comes from the burning of the tobacco leaf regardless of any additives. where do these people get their info? ridiculous!
LIE
Well, all good comments, just sayin if I knew what was in cigarettes and what it would do to me when I was younger, probably never would have started. After smoking almost 37 yrs., I have quit for 2 months to date, and plan on being a non smoker for ever after hopefully!! I still feel they should be illegal to sell. It's all about money. Not sayin there isn't dangerous things in soda and some foods also, which is as well sickening that they do this and get away with it!! Started having major breathing problems this year for the first time, and I have to say it actually scared me enough to give stopping a try. Couldn't smoke a pack without struggling to breathe terribly. So I bought a box of gum, and am currently down to only 1 and 1/2 pieces of nicotine gum per day. That Nicotine is a Bit** to quit, still slowly weaning off it. Wish I could go back and do it all over again, would have never started, cause a couple of cigs. and unfortunately, you're hooked. I still say I wish they would outlaw sale of them, so I don't worry about my Grandchildren ever getting hooked!! Though they educate them a little better in school today, about these things. Shameful world today, all about money!!! Slowly killing off the people and stealing their money!!
Regardless, our lungs weren't made to inhale such things into them!
so stay awake from smokers then and you will not be affected.
Amen. I so agree with your comment. I am going threw the same as you..I am sick and cant breath. I m trying to quit. And I also pray my grandkids don't pick up the nasty habit..
Then don't expect taxpayers to take care of you when your health goes to hell.
If you go to the ROOT of any problem in the world today you'll fine GREED is the culprit.
Right on!
Smoking is amazing and I love it. AND ARE YOU KIDDING ME I'M SMOKING ROCKET FUEL WHAT COULD BE MORE METAL THAN THAT. This is a reminder to breath deep and relax.
If you were only damaging your own health that would be fine, but your'e second hand smoke is damaging everyone around you. Very selfish attitude.
Sad, but true!
@ CCheryl, Best of luck to you with quitting, stay strong, one day at a time, you can do it. God Bless and wishing you good luck and good health!
The fact remains, they are as deadly and addictive as heroin and cocaine, so why are they legal, if it weren't a matter of money and greed??!! States make big money taxing the he** out of cigarettes, sickening!!
I agree with Anonymous who says he is using the nicotine gum, I smoked for 40 years and then all of a sudden in 2009 I started having problems breathing and had to be put on a tube to breathe and this has happened two times since then and close to death the last two times. I am now on oxygen 24 hours a day and wears me out to just walk very far. I to wish they would stop making them but do not believe they put all the stuff in them they say. If it is true it should be against the law. I to hope and pray my grandkids don't start after seeing what I have been through. Good luck to all smokers and quitting isn't easy, I have found that out!
I'm sure alot of what goes on is mere ignorance and lack of knowledge, I say educate the people, so they can make an educated decision!!
Sad, but very true!!!!
Just carbon monoxide, nicotine and the tar is enough to hurt your lungs and other organs over time! Ban the selling of cigarettes already!!!
It's true of Amonia, this is to ensure dilation of the bronchial tubes, so nicotine is inhaled deeply and is carried to the brain quickly to release dopamine and create the euphoria, the feeling that happens when we smoke a cigarette, which is why we have all gone back for more. Awful isn't it, such a well thought out plan by the makers to keep us coming back. Wish I knew then, what I know now, would have never touched one!!!
it all boils down to one thing....money...whether you make them or sale them its all about the Benjamins
Sad, but true, hope to see more people trying to quit in the future, Good Luck!
I believe that smoking dose contribute to health problems ,as dose our food with all the chemicals used on it or in it, and by law and our government it is allowed, they make billion's of dollars on this, if they are so concerned they should do smoothing about it like stop selling the product and not allow these chemicals to be put in it or sprayed on it, lets see what they have to say about this question it is all about wealth greed by taking this away their wealth would be somewhat minus and they do not like that
You don't really think they wouldn't rather take our SS money now, and then later in life, not have to pay us SS in our older age if they can kill us off first, do you?? And our Govenor and State Reps are also cashing in big time with taxing the shit out of them!!! Pay in your Social Security now, and die before you receive it!!! More of our money for them to steal!!!! Not like it is a hell of alot in the first place. They should all rot in hell someday!!! I know I was as stupid as hell to have ever tried smoking cigarettes!!! But I was as clueless as ever as to what they were or what they could do to my heatlh, nor did I have any idea of addiction, or what it meant when I started, too young and ignorant to the real facts, SAD!!
We the people need to overturn our Government and start running things for ourselves already!!!!! REVOLUTION, it's about time!!!!!! End it already!!!!!
Yes in Feb,2014 I have had not had a cig.in three ,years . But People have the choice to smoke are not but I gave it up for health , reason I pray to God I never start back
Cigga is like trouble :easy to get into but difficult to get out.wish you well those who are trying to quit.me no smoker
There really isn't much of a choice once you are ill informed as to the addiction of it, and are stupid or should I say ignorant enough to start, not knowing that it will addict you. Point being, they never should have been marketed in the first place. When one is young and stupid and has no clue as to what addiction is and what it will really do to your health, you don't know what you are trying when someone says, here try one of these. It is very difficult to give up the addiction, I have tried numerous times and am still struggling trying to quit!!!! Point still being, they should have never been marketed to sell in the first place!!!!! At the very least there should be extreme help and measures taken to aid people every step of the way with porper and effective medical rehab and help to quit this terrible addiction already!!!!
I agree. 40 years ago and longer we all got addicted they advertised everywhere. The govt. Allowed it. Now they are using all these chemicals they are allowing this., the govt. Is controlling our live. its like communism???
And you sound like a real a**hole!! You must definetely have some stake in the tobacco industry or smoke shop owner!!! Pathetic thing to say!!
I was never a particularly heavy smoker (5 to 10 a day). Managed to quit 13 months ago using e-cig. Yet last weekend was admitted to A&E with breathing difficulties, which chest xray suggested was "infected exacerbation of COPD". I now have to have a spirometry to confirm diagnosis. Had one, which was clear, b4 I quit, & was the reason I gave up because they said if I carried on, I would get it eventually. Never realised you could develop it up to 10yrs after quitting! Being unable to breathe is horrible & not worth the pleasure from a cig (& yes I did enjoy them). Quit now before its too late, even if you've had the all clear, damage has already been done & can take years to show up. So, so not worth it!
I am an ex smoker now I can't stand to go where they smoke. No matter how you try to cover the smell, it still is there. People that smoke stink. My
Daughter and her boyfriend smoke she bring me food that stink like cigarette. I don't tell her anything because I don't wont to get her mad.
great but don't do it in public
I bought a pack when I was in my twenties because I thought smoking would curb my appetite for food. I took one puff and couldnt stand the taste or smell and immediately gave them to someone who smoked. It was the best decision I ever made. I think back now of what kind of health problems I could have developed as well as how much money I have saved. I still have other health issues but it could have been a lot worse than what is going on now.
I don't think people should give up smoking or drinking because "its bad for you" or because others tell them to, they should do it because they want to, no-one has the right to tell you what you can or can't do (although some try to). Do I drink, NO, do I smoke, Yes.. I do smoke outside the house because that's what I chose to do, I have smoked for a long time and if I want to wreck my body then that's for me to decide, if you were told to give up Coffee/tea or give up your favourite sweet cause it was bad
for you, would you do it, no you wouldn't. Yes, I do feel bad for those who suffer from smoking or drinking but they chose to do it and we should NOT be judging them, besides, where is the real proof that smoking causes cancer, I have lost a couple of members in my family from cancer and not one of them smoked, one lived on a farm & was no where near anyone that smoked, So, lets leave the smokers alone, their bodies, their choice....
I have been off cigarettes for 7yrs now, was a 2 pack a day smoker for approximately 38yrs. And I believe they put those chemicals and more in cigarettes. Here's my thought for the day for those who want to be selfish and not care of others health. If I could turn back the hands of time and apologize to every person i subjected to my nasty selfish habit, I would be more than Happy to do it. I think ya all should take a moment and ponder this...rather than smoke, why not just go suck on the exhaust of a bus?
Every time you smoke you pass it on to others to breath. It is your business if you want to die young. You are telling us that what is in cigarettes is in our food you are wrong.
How is that possible you are everywhere. Your second hand smoke does not just stay with you it travels.
Excuse me but there were warnings on the packs that it was hazardous to your health. Everyone in my family smoked but me, lots of second hand smoke.
Those drugs are illegal. Our young children are smoking at a younger age. Those who smoke are setting a poor example. And the mothers who smoke when they are pregnant. That means the baby is smoking also.
To the ones of you that said that u are a smoker and that it's non of any ones business.What I eat will not make any one fat but me[which I'm not].If I drink a coke it will not cause anyone to have any effects from the sugar.And as far as I know somebody that drinks a beer around people is not going to make them drunk.
they say it is bad for your health but yet they still sell them....it is all about the tax dollar...they will loose too much money if they take them off the market, do you know how many of the people that say it is bad actually smoke and do not tell you they just tell you to quit...practice what you preach people...and by the way you only hear of people dying of SECOND hand smoke not the actual smokers...and yes I smoke and I am very healthy thank you
I started smoking cigarettes when I was 11.... and I've been trying to quit for a few years now. I am 18 and still smoking. I've tried e-cigs gum even replacing it with chewing on and sucking on tooth picks. It really is a bad and hard habbit to quit. I'm praying to god that one day I can geg ahold of my filthy habbit and quit once and for all.
the pollution that we've breathe everyday are more dangerous than a smoke,actually....
You non smokers are a bunch of pussies
Its definitely communism and socialism. We wouldn't have cigarettes, if people wouldn't smoke. I'm posting this and praying it will help even one single person to quit.
I agree with you. People should be able to choose for themselves what they want. Just don't push it on me.
I can't stand a pregnant women smoking. It takes away the oxygen from the baby every time she smokes.
You are absolutely correct. What you do to yourself is your business. The problem is that because of governmental interference, if you get sick as a result of your behavior, I'm forced to help pay for your health care. So. to level the playing field, how about this. If you smoke, you will dropped from Medicare or Medicaid or both. You pay for your own insurance. I have a good friend who is a physician with over 30 years in practice. She once told me that if everybody in this county stopped smoking and drinking for one year, half the Doctors would move away for lack of work. Keep on smoking, but please don't make me pay for the result. (From a former long time smoker)
because big business finances political campaigns - they love the money, they willingly slide on their duties to the people who voted for them, favoring the entities that paid for them to be in office - Politicians are as stupid as the system that allows the abuse of financing campaigns. And it isn't just cigarettes - the fast food industry, Monsanto with their GMOs, all sorts of pharmaceutical companies, etc ad nauseum - the puvlic safety is the lowest concern to a politician. Money is the first concern and that comes from corporate donations - and don't think it doesn't happen even with campaign reform - individuals will be used for a corporation to donate privately to a political party or individual candidate. No one plays by the rules except John Q. Public.
So the government should ban cigarettes! They have banned all kinds of addictive drugs over the years, and look how well that has worked. Billions spent to try to stop the drug trade,to little effect, except to make a lot of criminals very rich and put a lot of innocent
users in prison.
I really don't believe they input all the chemicals mentioned, for what purpose, it just doesn't make sense to think all these chemicals are necessary to make a cig. I think the cigar leaves are the only ingredients. People are trying make smokers quit by intimidating with this.Its ridiculous.
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