Hazardous Compounds in Tobacco Smoke

Abstract

Tobacco smoke is a toxic and carcinogenic mixture of more than 5,000 chemicals. The present article provides a list of 98 hazardous smoke components, based on an extensive literature search for known smoke components and their human health inhalation risks. An electronic database of smoke components containing more than 2,200 entries was generated. Emission levels in mainstream smoke have been found for 542 of the components and a human inhalation risk value for 98 components. As components with potential carcinogenic, cardiovascular and respiratory effects have been included, the three major smoke-related causes of death are all covered by the list. Given that the currently used Hoffmann list of hazardous smoke components is based on data from the 1990s and only includes carcinogens, it is recommended that the current list of 98 hazardous components is used for regulatory purposes instead. To enable risk assessment of components not covered by this list, thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC) have been established from the inhalation risk values found: 0.0018 μg day−1 for all risks, and 1.2 μg day−1 for all risks excluding carcinogenicity, the latter being similar to previously reported inhalation TTCs.

Time-to-Pregnancy Associated With Couples’ Use of Tobacco Products

“…40 Higher urinary cadmium concentrations among men were associated with higher levels of total and free testosterone and estradiol before adjusting for smoking. 41 In addition to potential effects of cadmium on the reproductive system, cigarette smoke contains more than 5000 other chemicals, including several which have been characterized as having adverse effects on reproduction, 42 and these need to be explored further in relation to couples' capacity to conceive.…”

Comparing lipid profile in healthy participants with and without smoking: A prospective study

“…[6] Inhalation of such smoke regularly for long time can aggravate the situation and lead to serious health hazards. [7] The mean TC value in smokers was 202.2 ± 26.7 mg/dL, whereas in non-smokers, it was 162.2 ± 22.2 mg/dL (P < 0.001).…”

O impacto dos aditivos do tabaco na toxicidade da fumaça do cigarro: uma avaliação crítica dos estudos patrocinados pela indústria do fumo

“…Tobacco company documents and reports disclosed by litigation (The Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, LTDL; https://industrydocuments.library.ucsf.edu/tobacco/) strengthened public health scientists' suspicions that such a diversity of tobacco additives is incorporated into cigarettes to make them more attractive, palatable and desirable to potential consumers 2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 . By doing so, tobacco additives would facilitate smoking initiation and maintenance thereby increasing prevalence of smoking and tobacco-related diseases in the population.…”

“…Menthol is a local pain-relieving agent and it is fair to say that it contributes to "smooth" tobacco smoke 6 . By reviewing the literature on sugars as tobacco additives, Talhout et al 8 concluded that there are consistent indications that sugars mask tobacco smoke harshness and throat impact of tobacco smoke 8,9,10 . Moreover, the authors pointed out that the sweet taste and agreeable smell of caramelized sugars are appreciated in particular by starting adolescent smokers 8 .…”