Tobacco : Behind the Smoke (infographic)
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Organization: Health Canada
Date published: January 2019
The Tobacco Plant (Nicotiana)
Naturally contains 2,500 chemicals including nicotine, the highly addictive substance responsible for tobacco addiction.
Anatomy of a cigarette
Cigarette paper, shredded tobacco, filter
Smoking cigarettes
The burning of the tobacco releases 7,000+ chemicals including 70+ that are cancer-causing.
Toxic chemicals are absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and to the entire body.
Exposure to smoke
Smokers, and everyone around them, are exposed to toxic chemicals, including:
- Tar
- Hydrogen cyanide
- Formaldehyde
- Carbon Monoxide
- Benzene
These can cause a number of adverse health effects, including:
- Cancer
- Respiratory diseases
- Cardiovascular illnesses
- Premature deaths
Take a closer look: Canada.ca/Tobacco
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