Dangers of Clove Cigarettes

Clove cigarettes, also known as kreteks, are a sweetly scented version of regular cigarettes that contains around 70 percent tobacco and 30 percent clove. Many versions of kreteks were recently banned in the United States, as they were thought to be a gateway drug for teens because of the sweet flavors. They carry very similar, if not worse, risks than standard cigarettes.

Eugenol

• Eugenol, a derivative of clove and a weak anesthetic, is standardly a nontoxic chemical when ingested. When burned, however, and passed through the airways, eugenol becomes a toxin, causing conditions like respiratory distress and pulmonary edema.

Twice the Tar

• Clove cigarettes also contain nearly twice the amount of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide as standard cigarettes. This means that smoking one clove cigarette is like smoking two regular cigarettes. Higher amounts of nicotine also mean a stronger addiction.

Weakened Gag Reflex

• The anesthetic chemical eugenol numbs the smokers' throats and weakens their gag reflex. The body's ability to determine which direction food and drink go is hindered, leading to increased instances of choking.