Ingredients in cigarettes

Cigarettes as a harmful product

Cigarettes and other items such as cigars or pipes are often considered to add an element of style to people using them, and are frequently smoked as a result of peer pressure or an urge for self expression. Another reason is its calming effect, or the addictive properties of nicotine and the various chemicals within cigarettes.

Cigarette packaging only features 5% of all ingredients featured in the product itself, which can include 599 US Government approved additives. In April 1994, several large cigarette companies posted a list of ingredients to the Department of Health and Human Services, namely Brown and Williamson, The Liggett Group Inc., Philip Morris Inc., The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company.

The mentioned ingredients were subsequently tested for use as food additives. However, the immolation of said additives made the substances alter their properties to damaging ingredients in cigarettes. Some 4000 chemical compounds in cigarette smoke are considered poisonous and carcinogenic, of which 43 have been proven to be carcinogenic for those who smoke actively and passively.

Cigarette Ingredients with harmful side-effects

A variety of dangerous chemicals are contained in cigarettes, with the ability to cause a plethora of diseases, as well as a multitude of negative effects and symptoms to the body. Ingredients that can cause cancer and are contained in cigarettes include Arsenic, Benzene, N-Nitrosodiethylamine, N-Nitrosopyrrolidine, Cadmium, Amino biphenyl, Vinyl chloride, Chromium, Ammonia, Nickel, 2-Naphthylamine, Benzo[a]pyrene and N-Nitrosodiethanolamine. Some elements and chemicals in cigarettes can also cause asthma and respiratory disease or infection, namely Nickel, Pyridine, Catechol, Acrolein and Cadmium and they are also a possible cause of kidney disease. Some cigarette content can also cause headache, dizziness or nausea, including Nicotine, Toluene, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen cyanide. Hydroquinone and Quinoline, also contained in smoke, can damage the eyes, and ingredients such as Carbon monoxide, Nicotine, Toluene, Lead and Carbon disulfide can influence the reproductive system. Finally, skin irritation can be caused by some of the compounds found in cigarettes, such as Catechol, Hydroquinone Acetone and Phenol.

Many complications to the health can arise from inhaling cigarette smoke, and a large number of chemicals within cigarettes can be the source of long term bodily damage such as irritations, oxygen deprivation, asthma, cancer, infections and fetal impairment. Ridding oneself of the smoking habit is highly recommended for attaining a healthier lifestyle, so is avoiding the stressing, energy decreased daily existence that can sometimes even be marred with infertility and impotence.