Cigarette Smoke Composition: Chemicals, Toxins & Health Risks

According to the National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 250 of which have been found to be harmful. Of these toxins, more than 50 are cancer-causing.

Nicotine

• Nicotine is the cigarette component that causes addiction. Once cigarette smoke is inhaled into the lungs, nicotine reaches the brain in six seconds. When in the bloodstream, it produces a feeling of calm. In the short term, nicotine produces increased blood pressure and heart rate and causes the arteries to narrow.

Carbon Monoxide

• The American Heart Association reports that carbon monoxide, a gas found in cigarette smoke, inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen. This, combined with the effects of nicotine, starves the body's cells of needed oxygen and may damage and harden the arterial walls, which increases the smoker's heart attack risk.

Other Toxins

• Additional chemicals found in cigarette smoke include arsenic, DDT, benzene (also found in gasoline,) butane (found in lighter fluid,) ammonia, lead, formaldehyde and polonium, a carcinogenic radioactive element. The use of these chemicals is heavily regulated under federal laws, but these laws exempt tobacco products from these restrictions.