Contents of Cigarettes

Tobacco is not the only component of a cigarette. Tobacco manufacturers add more then 4,000 chemicals to cigarettes to enhance the flavor or give cigarettes other properties. More than 60 of these chemicals are listed as a carcinogen (cancer causing compounds). Recent legislation will force tobacco manufacturers to provide information about every chemical and additive to cigarettes.

Carcinogens

• Tobacco is only one ingredient in cigarettes.

  Nicotine is the addictive chemical that is found in tobacco. It is one of the most addictive drugs in the world, and one small dose can often trap someone into a lifetime of smoking. Cigarettes also contain cancer-causing compounds called carcinogens. Some types of carcinogens found in cigarettes include urethane, toluidine, nitrosamines and benzo(a)pyrene. Each time a smoker lights a cigarette, she exposes herself to potentially fatal disease-causing chemicals.

Metals

• Mercury found in thermometers is also found in cigarettes.

  The ingestion of certain metals can cause a wide variety of illnesses and diseases. Cigarettes are shown to contain lead, which is particularly dangerous for children and can cause high blood pressure and nerve disorders in adults. Copper is also found in cigarettes and can cause kidney disease. Mercury found in cigarettes is very dangerous, causing serious mental problems affecting mood, behavior and memory. Aluminum is also found in cigarettes and, with high enough exposure, can cause weak muscles and chronic coughing.

Other Harmful Chemicals

• Many harmful chemicals are found in cigarettes.

  A wide variety of other chemicals are found in cigarettes. These chemicals affect nearly every major organ and system in the body. The solvent acetone is responsible for neurological issues and headaches. Chronic exposure to ammonia can permanently damage the mucus membranes. Known poisons, such as arsenic and hydrogen cyanide, are also found in cigarettes. Carbon monoxide, commonly referred to from car exhaust, is also produced from smoking cigarettes. Formaldehyde, which is used to preserve tissue, is another component of cigarettes.