Tobacco smoke is dangerous for human health. The National Cancer Institute estimates that over 222,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2010. Cigarette smoking is the greatest risk factor for developing this deadly form of cancer. The act of smoking sets off a chain of chemical reactions which occur both in the smoker and any individuals exposed to secondhand smoke.
Combustion
The act of smoking introduces heat. Heat in turn, catalyzes the chemical reactions that occur when smoking. These reactions release the more than 4,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke, estimates the National Cancer Institute. People exposed to smoking will absorb nicotine and carbon monoxide in their body fluids. The presence of these chemicals provide the raw materials for additional reactions within the body.
Process
A 1976 document by Phillip Morris summarized the complex series of chemical reactions which occur during smoking. Smoking releases both gases and particulate matter which can account for respiratory irritation some individuals may experience. The primary site of combustion occurs within the middle of the cigarette where ideal temperatures exist to fuel chemical reactions. The chemical profile changes as the temperature increases and chemicals are released.
Effects
The chemical reactions of smoking lead to respiratory health issues. Environmental tobacco smoke or ETS irritates the respiratory tract, leading to an increased incidence of infections, warns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It can exacerbate asthma attacks in individuals with existing conditions. The irritation may cause airways to become inflamed and swell, making it more difficult to breath. Exposure to carcinogens present in smoke can increase your risk of cancer by activating genetic triggers.
Types
The health effects caused by the chemical reactions of smoking occur because of the toxic nature of many of these substances. Some of the more dangerous chemicals include arsenic, cadmium and benzene. Benzene is a chemical found in gasoline. A chemical element called polonium-210 emits radiation.
Secondhand Smoke
Even if you are not a smoker, exposure to secondhand smoke can increase your risk of developing cancer, warns the National Institutes of Health. The agency formally declared secondhand smoke a known human carcinogen in 2000. Non-smoker lung cancer due to secondhand smoke takes 3,000 lives each year, estimates the EPA.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Cancer Facts and Figures 2010
- National Cancer Institute: Secondhand Smoke: Questions and Answers
- Phillip Morris: Reaction Mechanism in the Burning Cigarette
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Health Effects of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
- National Institutes of Health: The "Report on Carcinogens" - 9th Edition
