Every tobacco smoker or every other person may have known the immense dangers of smoking, the diseases that it causes, and how tobacco is one of the most addictive products in the world today.
Indeed, it is the concoction of added chemicals that makes tobacco so harmful to our health.
If you’ve ever wondered what chemicals are added and what they are otherwise used for, click through this gallery to find out.
The chemicals
There are over 700 additives in most tobacco products.
The most dangerous product on the market?
This is just a brief list of the uses of some of the additives in tobacco products. After seeing these, it’ll be obvious why it is one of the most dangerous consumer products on the market.
Acetaldehyde: Acetaldehyde is used to make polyvinyl acetate, which is a form of glue.
Acetic acid: Acetic acid can be found in hair dye.
Acetone: Acetone is used to make nail polish remover.
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Ammonia: Ammonia is commonly used in household cleaning products.
Arsenic: Arsenic is an active ingredient in rat poison. There are also low arsenic levels of arsenic in concrete, making it relatively safe to use in construction.
Benzene: Benzene can be found in a range of products, including in plastic. It is also an ingredient in most pesticides. It is also naturally found in crude oil. It is also used to make many different kinds of rubber.
Butane: Butane is used in lighter fluid.
Carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide (CO) is not added to tobacco but is formed when it is burned. CO can also be found in car exhaust fumes.
Cadmium: Cadmium is used to make metal alloys.
Cocoa: What could be wrong with cocoa? Well, it gives the tobacco a more appealing taste and a pleasant experience is more likely to result in repeat behavior.
Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is an active ingredient in embalming fluid.
Hydrogen cyanide: Hydrogen cyanide is used for the case hardening of iron and steel.
Lead: Lead is used in batteries. Lead is also used in various electric wiring systems.
Menthol: Menthol is also used to improve the taste of tobacco. What’s more, its soothing effect leads menthol smokers to inhale more deeply, hold the smoke for longer, and therefore become more exposed to other chemicals.
Polonium-210: Polonium-210 is radioactive and is used to remove static electricity in machinery or dust from photographic film. It is also used to make explosives and other weaponry.
Tar: Tar is used for paving roads.
Toluene: Toluene used to manufacture paint.
The tobacco industry: Though it is well known that tobacco has been wiping out millions of people for a long time, the industry is booming and shows no sign of slowing any time soon.
Sources: (American Cancer Society) (FDA) (WHO)
