A cigarette might look like a simple product, made from tobacco and wrapped in paper with a filter at one end. But once it’s lit, it becomes a source of thousands of chemicals, many of which are toxic and incredibly damaging to our health. For Stoptober, the annual campaign encouraging people to stop smoking, we’re taking a look at what goes into a cigarette.
What is actually in a cigarette?
Cigarettes contain tobacco, which naturally contains nicotine, alongside other ingredients that may be added during manufacturing. These can help control moisture, preserve the tobacco or change the flavour of the smoke. The paper and filter also influence how a cigarette burns and how smoke is delivered.
However, the real danger comes from what happens when a cigarette is lit. Burning tobacco produces a complex mixture of chemicals, many of which are harmful to human health. Cancer Research UK reports that cigarette smoke contains more than 5,000 chemicals, with at least 70 known to cause cancer.
When someone inhales, these chemicals enter the lungs, where some pass into the bloodstream and travel around the body. Smoking therefore, creates a route for harmful substances to affect multiple organs and biological systems.
Why smoking is addictive?
Nicotine is the substance that keeps people smoking, even when they want to stop. After inhalation, it reaches the brain within seconds, stimulating the reward system and reinforcing the desire to smoke again. With repeated use, the body becomes accustomed to nicotine. When someone stops, they may experience cravings, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating or changes in mood.
It is worth making an important distinction here. Nicotine is highly addictive, but it is not the main cause of smoking related cancer. Much of the damage comes from the thousands of other chemicals inhaled alongside it. Nicotine dependence keeps people returning to a product that repeatedly exposes them to those substances.
This is also why support can make a difference. Nicotine replacement products, such as patches, gum and lozenges, can help manage withdrawal without exposing users to the toxic chemicals produced by burning tobacco.
Tar is more than a sticky residue
Tar is often mentioned when discussing cigarettes, but it is not a single chemical. It’s a sticky mixture of particles and substances produced when tobacco burns, including chemicals that can damage cells and contribute to cancer.
As smoke enters the lungs, these substances affect the airways and the delicate tissues responsible for moving oxygen into the bloodstream. Over time, repeated exposure contributes to respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema. People living with these conditions may develop a persistent cough, increased breathlessness and have difficulty carrying out everyday activities.
The hidden effect on oxygen
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced when tobacco burns. It has no colour or smell, and cannot be identified by simply looking at or smelling cigarette smoke. Once inhaled, carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells. Haemoglobin normally carries oxygen around the body, but carbon monoxide reduces its ability to do so. This means the heart has to work harder to supply the body’s tissues with the oxygen they need.
For people working in industrial environments, this is particularly relevant. Physically demanding tasks, such as lifting, climbing or sustained manual work, require the body to deliver oxygen efficiently to working muscles. Smoking can undermine this process and its long term effects on the heart and lungs can further reduce physical capacity. The impact varies between individuals, but carbon monoxide is one of several reasons smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The other chemicals in cigarette smoke
Nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide are only part of the story. Cigarette smoke contains a range of other substances, including toxic metals, irritants and chemicals associated with cancer. Some have names that might sound familiar from industrial settings.
Examples include:
- Benzene: an industrial chemical associated with an increased risk of leukaemia and other blood disorders.
- Formaldehyde: a toxic substance that can irritate the eyes, airways and cause cancer.
- Arsenic: a toxic element associated with several cancers and damage to multiple organ systems.
- Cadmium: a toxic metal that can damage the kidneys and lungs and is linked to cancer.
- Hydrogen cyanide: a poisonous chemical that interferes with the body’s ability to use oxygen effectively.
- 1,3-butadiene: a chemical used in rubber manufacturing that is also recognised as a human carcinogen.
- Polonium-210: a radioactive substance that can contribute to radiation exposure within the body.
The important point is not simply that these substances exist in cigarettes. It’s that inhaling a mixture of toxic chemicals repeatedly exposes the body to substances capable of harming cells, disrupting normal biological processes and contributing to serious disease.
How smoking affects long term health
Repeated exposure to tobacco smoke can damage DNA, inflame the airways and interfere with the body’s natural defences against infection. Smoking increases the risk of cancers affecting the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, pancreas and bowel, among other organs. It’s also a major cause of heart disease, stroke and COPD. Wound healing, fertility and the body’s ability to fight infections can be affected too.
These risks increase with continued exposure, although there is no risk free level of cigarette smoking. People who smoke occasionally are still exposed to harmful chemicals, and roll up cigarettes are not a safer alternative. There is also the issue of second hand smoke. People nearby can inhale many of the same toxic substances, even if they don’t smoke themselves. That’s why smoke free environments an important for protecting other people’s health.
Stoptober matters in the workplace
Smoking is often treated as a personal health matter, but its effects can be felt in the workplace. In industrial settings, where roles involve strenuous activity or safety critical tasks, supporting workers to protect their health is particularly important. Employers can help by creating an environment where people feel comfortable asking for support and providing adequate access to health services.
Stoptober offers a useful opportunity to start these conversations. However, support shouldn’t end when October does. Quitting can take more than one attempt and a setback does not mean someone cannot succeed. Encouragement, access to effective healthcare and a non-judgemental approach can make the difference. Your health is worth more than any cigarette, so quit smoking for good this Stoptober!