Tobacco 101

What is Tobacco

Tobacco is a plant grown for its leaves, which are smoked, chewed, or stiffed for a variety of effects. It is considered an addictive substance because it contains the chemical nicotine.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and compounds. Hundreds are toxic and at least 70 cause cancer. Tobacco smoke itself is a known human carcinogen.

Chemicals in Cigarettes

Cancer-Causing Chemicals

Formaldehyde: Used to embalm dead bodies

Benzene: Found in gasoline

Polonium 210: Radioactive and very toxic

Vinyl chloride: Used to make pipes

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults

worldwide.

Toxic Metals

Chromium: Used to make steel

Arsenic: Used in pesticides

Lead: Once used in paint

Cadmium: Used to make batteries

Poisonous Gases

Carbon monoxide: Found in car exhausts

Hydrogen cyanide: Used in chemical weapons

Ammonia: Used in household cleaners

Butane: Used in lighter fluid

Toluene: Found in paint thinners

Nicotine

• More addictive than cocaine and heroine• Toxic if ingested in high doses

Carbon Monoxide

The compound in car exhaust that causes death

Causes shortness of breath

Reduces the amount of oxygen blood can carry

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating.

Tar

Sticky residue that stains the fingers, teeth and lungs.

Contains benzopyrene - one of the deadliest cancer causing agents known.

Tar exposes the user to an increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders.

Street Names for Tobacco

Cigarettes: Smokes, Cigs, Butts. Smokeless Tobacco: Chew, Dip, Spit Tobacco, Snuff

Short-Term Effects

Increase in blood pressure

Increase in heart rate

Increase the flow of blood from the heart

Increase the effect of irritants on any standing allergies

Increase in acid in the stomach

Long-Term Effects

Chronic lung disease

Coronary heart disease

Stroke

Cancer of the lungs, larynx,esophagus, mouth, and bladder

Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless tobacco, also called spit tobacco,chew, chaw, and dip, come in two forms: snuff and chewing tobacco

Snuff is a fine grain tobacco that often comes in teabag-like pouches that users pinch or dip between their lower lip and gum.

Chewing tobacco comes in shredded, twisted, or bricked tobacco leaves that users put between their cheek and gum.

Consequences of Smokeless Tobacco

Cracking and bleeding lips and gumsReceding gumsIncrease heart rate, blood pressureCancer

What is Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco

smoke or passive smoke, is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke

from burning tobacco products:

Sidestream smoke: smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar

Mainstream smoke: smoke that is exhaled by a smoker

Consequences of Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Heart diseaseLung cancerSudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)Low birth weightFrequent and more severe asthma attackBronchitis and pneumoniaIncreased risk for ear infectionsIncreased risk of cervical cancer

Children & Secondhand Smoke

38% of children aged 2 months to 5 years are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home

Up to 2,000,000 ear infections each yearNearly 530,000 doctor visits for asthmaUp to 436,000 episodes of bronchitis in

children under five

Pregnancy & Secondhand Smoke

Miscarriage

Preterm Delivery

Prematurity

Low birth weight

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Benefits of Quitting

Within 20 Minutes: Blood pressure drops to normal Pulse rate returns to normal Body temperature of hands and feet increases to

normalWithin 8 Hours: Carbon Monoxide level in blood drops to normal Oxygen level in blood increases to normal Smoker’s breath disappearsWithin 24 Hours: Your chance of a heart attack decreases

Benefits of Quitting

Within 48 Hours: Nerve endings start to re-grow Your ability to smell and taste is enhancedWithin 72 Hours: Bronchial tubes relax making it easier to breathe Lung capacity increases making it easier to do

physical activitiesWithin 2 Weeks: Circulation improves Walking becomes easier

Benefits of Quitting

Within 1-9 Months: Coughing, sinus, congestion, fatigue, shortness of

breath decrease Energy level increasesWithin 1 Year: Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a

smokerWithin 2 Years: Heart attack risk drops to near normalWithin 5 Years Stroke risk is reduced

Benefits of Quitting

Within 10 Years: Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a

person who does not smoke The pre-cancerous cells are replacedWithin 15 Years: Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a

person who has never smoked

Quitting at any age and at any time is beneficial. It's never too late to quit, but the sooner the better.

New strategies for cessation, including nicotine replacement and non-nicotine medications, can make it easier.

Resources to Quit

Mississippi Tobacco Quitline1-800- QUIT-NOW

ACT Centerhttp://act2quit

Sources

American Heart AssociationCenters for Disease Control and

PreventionAmerican Lung AssociationThe New York TimesSurgeon General’s ReportMississippi State Department of Health