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Startling Facts About Smoking

Tobacco was introduced for medicinal purposes after it was discovered that the native Indians of North and South America used the plant ceremonially. In some countries, tobacco was not welcomed. The Turks imposed the death penalty, and the Emperor of Russia tortured and deported citizens. Since its introduction, smoking has left behind a long history of addiction and death.

  1. Dangers

    • Smoking exposes the lungs and body to a variety of chemicals. These toxins include carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic, hydrogen cyanide, cyanide, ammonia, butane, acetone, formaldehyde, DDT, cadmium, sulfuric acid, geranic acid, methoprene, and maltitol.

    History

    • In 1851, the black-gloved dancer Lola Montez made cigarettes a symbol for women's emancipation. This image resurfaced when Virginia Slim cigarettes used the slogan "You've come a long way baby" in 1968 to symbolize the emancipation of women.

    Problems

    • In 2006, more than two-thirds of New York City's smokers tried to quit smoking. Only 17 percent of the nearly 240,000 people actually succeeded.

    Considerations

    • In 1996, Lilo McLean filed suit with her son, Mark Huth, against Philip Morris, Inc. over the death of her husband, David McLean. David McLean was the original actor who played the "Marlboro Man". He smoked up to five packs of cigarettes a day that he received from the company. He died of lung cancer.

    Warning

    • Scientists at the University of Massachusetts found that subjects developed at least one of the eight symptoms of addiction after their first smoke.

    References

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