Negative Facts on Smoking

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States and around much of the world. Smoking is an addictive habit that causes many different devastating health problems and contributes significantly to health care costs.

Deaths

• Diseases developed as a direct result of smoking are responsible for 440,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. This includes 87 percent of deaths from lung cancer.

Cancer

• Smoking is responsible for most cases of lung, larynx, mouth, pharynx, esophagus and bladder cancer. Cigarette smoke contains over 60 chemicals that are proven to cause cancer.

Chemicals

• Cigarette smoke contains almost 5,000 chemicals, 69 of which are carcinogenic. Many of the chemicals are toxic to humans and fatal in high enough doses. These include nicotine, carbon monoxide, arsenic, tar and lead.

Cost

• Health care for smokers costs $150 billion each year. Smoking, along with obesity, is one of the most significant contributors to the rising costs associated with health care provision and coverage.

Secondhand Smoke

• Smoking doesn't just harm the smoker. Exposure to secondhand smoke greatly increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency attributes 3,000 annual deaths from lung cancer in non-smokers to secondhand smoke, as well as 300,000 instances of lower respiratory tract infections in infants each year.