Health effects of smoking: Harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke
Tobacco smoke contains over 7000 chemicals, of which over 70 are known to cause cancer. Some of these chemicals are found naturally in tobacco leaves, and most of the others are created through the burning of the tobacco product, like a cigarette, cigar or pipe.
Many diseases and conditions can be related to tobacco use:
- Cancer of the lung, mouth, voice box, throat, kidney, bladder, cervix and bowel
- Heart attacks, circulatory problems, strokes
- Lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD includes conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis
- Tooth loss, gum disease
Smoking is also related to infertility, sudden infant death syndrome and infant health problems.
Exposure to tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, benzene and other chemicals occurs whenever a tobacco product is burned. These chemicals can be toxic and harmful for people who smoke, and those exposed to tobacco smoke.
To learn more about these chemicals, visit our toxic emissions in tobacco smoke and our toxic emissions statements pages.