Cigarette: what toxic substances does it contain?

Everyone knows that the nicotine in cigarettes makes you addicted, but do you really know all the harmful substances in cigarettes? Explanations and list of toxic components of a rolled, electronic or “light” cigarette with Dr Anita Diu, addictologist.

SUMMARY

  • Definition
  • Composition
  • Nicotine
  • Tar
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Additives
  • Irritants
  • Light cigarette
  • Rolled Cigarette
  • Cigar
  • Electronic cigarette

Definition: what is a cigarette?

In addition to tobacco, cigarettes contain a large number of substances  : ” Nicotine, tar, arsenic, acetone, additives as well as flavor and texture agents, serving to mask the harsh taste of pure tobacco “, lists Anita Diu, clinical addictologist at ANPAA 75. When the cigarette is lit, it produces a smoke qualified by many experts as” a real chemical factory “. Indeed, the combustion of a cigarette causes the formation of various toxic substances: it is considered that around 4000 substances are present in cigarette smoke. Among them, more than 40 components are carcinogenic.Lighting a cigarette results in the formation of benzene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocyanic acid, ammonia and mercury, as well as metals including lead, mercury and chromium. When you smoke a cigarette, the chemicals mix together and form a sticky tar. Cadmium is a heavy metal that takes about 70 years to be eliminated from the body. ” Nevertheless, it is important to know that when you stop smoking, some of these substances are quickly eliminated from the body, such as carbon monoxide, which makes smokers’ complexion dull “, adds the specialist.

Quitting smoking: methods, side effects, motivation

Tobacco causes a strong psychological and physical dependence. He would be responsible for 75,000 deaths in France. How to succeed in dropping out? Only ? Quickly? What effects can you expect? How to get there without putting on weight? Tour of really effective methods with Prof. Jean-Pol Tassin, Emeritus Research Director at Inserm.

 

Nicotine is not carcinogenic, but it makes the smoker addicted. 

Composition of a cigarette

Nicotine

” Nicotine does not cause cancer, but it is she who is responsible for a large part of the addiction to smoking: it is called the chemical addiction , says Dr. Anita Diu clinical addiction specialist. Celle- this will enter the brain and act on a large part of the brain receptors. This does not damage the brain itself, but makes smokers addicted to tobaccoThis dependence is similar, or even greater according to some specialists, to that caused by heroin and cocaine. Nicotine also has the effect of stimulating the nervous system, and gives the impression of being more alert. Indeed, by acting on the brain, it causes a decrease in stress, a feeling of having less need to eat or a stimulating effect. This would thus cause adverse cardiovascular effects over time, by increasing the heart rate. nicotine decreases the diameter of the arteries supplying the hands and feet, causing their temperature to drop.

The poster “Autopsy of a murderer” – National Cancer League (2004) describes the different toxic substances produced by cigarette smoke. © National League Against Cancer

Tar

“Tar is formed of heavy metals or very carcinogenic chemicals, which come from the combustion of cigarettes, which makes it found in smoke, ” explains the addictologist. Among these, we can cite hydrocarbons, benzene, inorganic compounds… ” As tar is formed from the degradation elements of the tobacco leaf when it burns, we therefore find some of the components obtained from agriculture. , like fertilizers or pesticides, “explains the specialist. If some smokers then turn to organic tobacco, there is undeniably tar. “As these substances are present in tobacco smoke, when the smoker inhales them, they will undoubtedly go to be deposited in the lungs, more particularly the pulmonary alveoli “ , she specifies. This is why tar is the main substance. responsible for cancers linked to smoking A smoker of one pack / day inhales on average 250 ml of tar per year, or the equivalent of two pots of yogurt.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is not present in cigarettes, but is generated by combustion. “When the smoker inhales the smoke from cigarettes, as with any smoke, he will inhale too much carbon monoxide instead of oxygen.“, explains Dr. Diu. This carbon monoxide will then bind to the hemoglobin of the red blood cell and reduce the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen to tissues. This promotes the occurrence of hypoxia, a decrease in blood red blood cells increasing cardiovascular risk due to increased heart rate causing shortness of breath, coughing and increased cardiovascular risk. who pull hard on their cigarettes fix the CO2 more on the hemoglobin, and it takes four to six hours to clear the carbon monoxide from the blood.

Additives

Additives are the substances added to tobacco in cigarettes. ” The tobacco companies add them to give a less suitable taste to tobacco and to make their cigarettes more recognizable. Thus, a smoker will attach himself, in general, to a brand of cigarette, which he will certainly keep throughout his life “, specifies the addictologist. But some additives release dangerous components during combustion: ” the legislation is strict enough in this area, so that there are not too many aromas that would hide the very bitter taste of nicotine, but also because of their dangerousness “.

Irritants

Acetone, phenols and hydrocyanic acid are irritants that attack the walls of the bronchi, nose and eyes. Hydrocyanic acid is one of the most toxic products found in tobacco smoke.

Composition of a “light” cigarette

Many experts have demonstrated the toxicity of light or light cigarettes: smoking this type of cigarette causes even more risks than smoking normal cigarettes. This is why they were banned in France. “Indeed,” light “cigarettes cause another type of lung cancer more aggressive”, explains our interlocutor. To satisfy their need for nicotine, smokers tend to smoke more than one “light” cigarette, but also to increase the number and intensity of their puffs. ” This causes smokers of light cigarettes to inhale their cigarettes harder, exposing the pulmonary alveoli and small bronchi to high amounts of toxic compounds present in the smoke.“. This is why today, the level of nicotine is almost the same in all cigarettes in France.

Composition of a rolled cigarette

Tobacco price increases have led to an increase in the consumption of hand-rolled tobacco, which is much cheaper. But the vast majority of rolled-cigarette smokers ignore the risks of roll-your-own tobacco: indeed, one might think there are fewer carcinogens, because it looks more “natural”. But it’s actually the other way around: roll-your-own tobacco releases more carcinogenic compounds than the more toxic cigarette. The reason: “The yield of nicotine and tar from rolled cigarettes is three to six times higher”, explains Tabac Infos Service. In addition, tobacco burns less well than that of a cigarette, which will cause more carbon monoxide to be sucked in by the smoker – and most users do not put on a filter. So,

Composition of a cigar

The cigar is more toxic than a cigarette because the smoke produced is not filtered. The nicotine level varies from 1 to 20 depending on the cigars. The surrounding tobacco leaf prevents the evaporation of substances produced by combustion. The risks of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease increase with the number of cigars smoked. The risk of lung cancer is tripled because cigar smokers inhale cigar smoke very deeply. The risk of developing cancer of the mouth, larynx and pharynx is quadrupled compared to a non-smoker because the cigar smoker keeps the smoke in his mouth for long minutes.

Composition of an electronic cigarette

NEWSLETTER

 

See an example

” The electronic cigarette is infinitely less toxic than the cigarette , assures the doctor Diu. It is a good way to quit smoking for many people who are very attached to gestures and cannot manage to do without immediately. “. There are standards for selling electronic cigarettes in France: ” These cigarettes do not have too high a nicotine level , it is regulated, and substances propelled by gas are regulated, which is not the case in the States. -Uni s “, adds addictology. For her, it is difficult to say today what the effects of electronic cigarettes will be in the long term. “But electronic cigarettes sold in France are so much less toxic than real cigarettes that they are worth it “, she adds. For Anita Diu, it is a good way to quit smoking ,” but on condition that the people pay attention to their reduction: there is no point in having an electronic cigarette if it is still to smoke three or four cigarettes a day “ , concludes the specialist.

Electronic cigarette: danger, effects, useful to quit smoking?

Sometimes controversial, the electronic cigarette (e-cigarette or vapoteuse) can be useful to stop smoking. What is really its composition? Is there nicotine inside? What are its health benefits and dangers? Explanations with an addictologist and a tobacco specialist.

by Abdullah Sam
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