How many cancer causing chemicals are in cigarettes? Tobacco contains more than 70 substances that are considered carcinogens. These substances are found naturally in tobacco plants, but many of them are added during the manufacturing process. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified some of these substances as human carcinogens. The list is extensive, and includes such chemicals as benzene, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, and trichloroethylene (TCE).
Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds. Of these, over 60 are known to cause cancer. Tobacco smoke is addictive and contains high levels of nicotine, an addictive drug. In addition, smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Tobacco smoke contains 69 chemicals that cause cancer, and is highly inflammatory and has other damaging effects on the body. Some of these chemicals have even been linked to impotence.
There are many carcinogens in tobacco, and some of these compounds would be produced regardless of the organic material smoked. Moreover, some of the compounds found in tobacco smoke are unique to cigarettes. Chewing tobacco and snuff are also carcinogenic. These substances have the ability to cause cancer by triggering mutations in cells. The tobacco smoke that we breathe contains tar, which is the residue of incomplete burning of chemicals in a cigarette. In addition to causing physical damage to the lung, these tar chemicals promote tumor growth and encourage tumors.
Researchers have learned much about how the chemicals in tobacco smoke interact with DNA. These studies provide new information that complements the epidemiological links between smoking and cancer. Today, scientists estimate that up to 85% of lung cancer is caused by cigarette smoking, and a substantial percentage of other types of cancer are also caused by smoking. Epidemiological studies confirmed the link between smoking and lung cancer, and experiments in the 1950s proved that the chemicals found in cigarette smoke can cause cancer in mice. In 1964, the US Surgeon General issued a public health warning against smoking.
The research has shown that DNA adducts play an important role in the carcinogenic process. Protein adducts can also be useful. However, the most important biomarkers are urinary metabolites, which provide vital information about the level of exposure to a carcinogen and how it is metabolized. The study also found that cigarette smoke contains a large number of carcinogens.
