Below is a list of 20 ingredients (out of 4,800!) of regular cigarettes. Each of these is described alongside:-
Acetone: One of the active ingredients in nail polish remover.
Ammonia: A caustic agent used in fertilisers and household cleaners. Is added to enhance the flavour of a cigarette, but also helps the smoker to absorb more nicotine thereby enhancing addiction.
Arsenic: Makes your lips burn and is responsible for giving you bad breath.
Benzopyrene: One of the most potent cancer-causing chemicals in the world. Found in coal tar and cigarette smoke.
Benzene: An industrial chemical and a constituent of gasoline. It is a group 1 carcinogen and is responsible for causing leukemia and aplitic anemia.
Butane: A key component of gasoline, it’s highly flammable.
Carbon Monoxide: A colourless, odourless gas, which starves the body of existing oxygen.
Cadmium: Used in batteries and oil paint. It is a group 1 carcinogen. It damages the liver, kidneys, and brain and remains in the body for years (>10 years). Is also excreted in the breast milk of nursing mothers.
Formaldehyde: Used in embalming (preserving tissue). Causes cancer and damages the lung, skin, and digestive tract.
Hydrogen Cyanide: A colourless poisonous gas. Short-term exposure causes headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Lead: Of the heavy metal group. Stunts growth and damages the brain, kidneys and nervous system. Lead is more easily absorbed in the growing bodies so children are particularly vulnerable. Exposure in children can result in development delays, lower IQ levels, shortened attention spans and increased behavioural problems
Methoprene: An insecticide used to kill fleas on your pets.
Mercury: A heavy metal, affects the central nervous system. Exposure causes tremors, memory loss and kidney disease.
Nickel: A heavy metal, affects the central nervous system. Exposure causes increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
Nitric oxide: Produces short-term effects on airway activity. High concentrations can lead to acute lung dysfunction.
Phenol: Used in disinfectants and plastic. Exposure causes skin, eye, and mucus membrane irritation.
Polonium: A cancer causing radioactive element.
Styrene: Found in insulation material. Causes headaches, fatigue, weakness, and depression.
Toluene: Embalmers glue, which is a central nervous system depressant. Exposure causes ataxia, tremors, cerebral atrophy, nystagmus, impaired speech, hearing and vision, headaches, dizziness and difficulty sleeping.
Turpentine: A toxic chemical used in paint stripper