What is the harmful chemical found in cigerettes?

Answer 1

Nicotine may be cited as one of the most well-known additives of cigarettes, but there are other substances added by tobacco companies that pack a more powerful, and dangerous, punch.

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals -- a big jump from the tobacco, rolling paper and filter tip. Of those 4,000 additives, there are nearly 50 known carcinogens -- cancer-causing substances -- in each cigarette. Some of these include cadmium, a substance used to produce batteries; and formaldehyde, the liquid most commonly recognized for preserving amphibians in science labs. Both of these have been proved to cause cancer in both humans and animals.

In addition to cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke, there are many other irritants found in cigarette smoke.

Ammonia, acetone and arsenic are household names because of their use in cleaning products, nail-polish remover and rat poison. These are also included in cigarette smoke. Some chemicals, including ammonia, have been added by tobacco companies to mask the harsh taste of the tobacco. These chemicals also help to convert the nicotine to a gaseous form. This helps the addiction-forming nicotine to be absorbed into the blood stream more effectively.

Each time a smoker lights up, they are exposing themselves -- and all others around them -- to carcinogens, chemicals and secondhand smoke.

Cigarettes that have been analyzed in labs have revealed a very large number of different substances, due in part to the fact that the original chemicals placed into a cigarette are burned, and produce a plethora of byproducts from the burning. Hence a comprehensive list of chemicals is near impossible, however a list can be formulated based on the amount produced and its effects of health. Of the harmful and possibly harmful chemicals, these include:

• Acetaldehyde - 980 micrograms to 1.37 milligrams
• Acrylonitrile - formerly 1 to 2 milligrams. This product was used as a fumigant in tobacco. Its use has since been discontinued.
• 4-Aminobiphenyl - 0.2 to 23 nanograms per cigarette
• Arsenic - unknown
• Benzene - 5.9 to 75 micrograms
• Beryllium - 0.5 nanograms
• 1,3-Butadiene - 152 to 400 micrograms
• Cadmium - 1.7 micrograms
• 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine - unknown
• Ethylene oxide - unknown
• Formaldehyde - unknown
• Heterocyclic amines - unknown
• Hydrazine - 32 micrograms
• Isoprene - about 3.1 milligrams
• Lead - unknown
• 2-Naphthylamine - 1.5 to 35 nanograms
• N-Nitrosodi-n-Butylamine - 3 nanograms
• N-Nitrosodiethanolamine - 24 to 36 nanograms
• N-Nitrosodiethylamine - up to 8.3 nanograms
• N-Nitrosodimethylamine - 5.7 to 43 nanograms
• N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine - 1 nanogram
• 4-(N-Nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Butanone - up to 4.2 micrograms
• N-Nitrosonornicotine - 14 micrograms
• N-Nitrosopyrrolidine - 113 nanograms
• N-Nitrososarcosine - 22 to 460 nanograms
• Polonium-210 - variable, depending on soil and fertilizer used to grow tobacco
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon - 28 to 100 milligrams
• o-Toluidine - 32 nanograms
• Vinyl chloride - 5.6 to 27 nanograms

Chemical quantities are unknown generally due to the fact that either a process of measuring them reliably is not possible or the value varies for too much for unknown reasons.

Nicotine is an allelochemical - one produced naturally by the plant - not an additive. All plants, including fruit and vegetables, produce their own allelochemicals, yet very little research has been done on their toxicity and carcinogenicity (apart from those of one particular plant!).

All the above 'nasties' will be found in the combustion gases of most carboniferous substances, such as domestic gas, oil, petroleum, coal, candle wax, wood and incense. Several impartial studies have suggested that exposure to the fumes from gas heaters and wood-burning stones is more harmful than exposure to tobacco smoke.

Answer 2

Cigarettes contain an addictive drug called nicotine. When burned, cigarettes produce a variety of other harmful chemicals as well. Most of these fall under the category "tar" which technically refers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Answer 3

it is a proven face that it is rat poison it is a proven face that it is rat poison it is a proven face that it is rat poison

Answer 4

The Carbon monoxide and/or the Nicotine