smoking hazards
...ladder, kidney and eye, blood cells. Formaldehyde exposure greater than 0.22 ppm is linked to respiratory symptoms, such as cough, phlegm, chronic bronchitis, asthma, dyspnoea. Formaldehyde is known to produce allergic reactions and induction of asthma-like conditions, lightheadedness, dizziness, diminished dexterity, itching eyes, dry and sore throats, disturbed sleep, unusual thirst, and malignant disease in humans. Human eyes are sensitive to formaldehyde at concentrations of 0.01 ppm, and are irritated by formaldehyde at concentrations of 0.05 to 0.5 ppm (Yesner 16). Acetaldehyde (suspected carcinogen): It causes cancer in animals, and may cause cancer in humans. It is an irritant to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract of humans and animals. Acetaldehyde may lead to secondary effects such as increased absorption of the other hazardous chemicals in tobacco smoke, into the bronchial system. Acetone (Irritant): It is an irritant to eyes, nose, and throat. Higher doses can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and damage to the liver and kidneys. Acrolein: (secondary cause of cancer, potent irritant) It has not been found to cause cancer by itself. However, in the body, Acrolein produces glycidaldehyde, which does cause cancer. Acrolein is intensely irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract in human and animals. Propionaldehyde :(Irritant):Irritant to the respiratory system, skin, and eyes. Crotonaldehyde: (animal carcinogen):It is known to cause cancer in animals. The mechanism involved seems to be associated with interference with the DNS functioning. Crotonaldehyde is a major irritant to the nose and upper respiratory tract (Sherman 2). Methyl ethyl ketone: (Irritant): It causes nose, throat, and eye irritation in humans. Butyraldehyde: (Irritant, skin damage): Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Higher levels of exposure lead to dizziness and lightheadedness, and may burn skin. Hydrogen cyanide: (Irritant, psychological poison): It causes nasal irritation, confusion, headache, dizziness, weakness, and nausea in humans. At higher doses, hydrogen cyanide causes vertigo, loss of weight, and gastrointestinal problems. Nickel: (Carcinogen): Up to 5% of the general population are sensitized (allergic) to nickel. Nickel inhalation increases the risk of cancer and gastrointestinal symptoms. Nickel inhalation/exposure increases to respiratory infection, allergic contact dermatitis, and pulmonary edema. Lead: (Suspected carcinogen): It is known to cause cancer in animals. It may cause cancer in humans. Lead interacts with enzymes, especially those associated with heme synthesis (blood). Therefore, its absorption at even low levels causes an increase in blood pressure in humans. Lead causes anemia at blood levels above 80 ug/dl. Lead poisoning affects the brain and kidney, causing severe damage. Lead is a possible reproductive toxin, whereby it affects sperm formation, also affects fetal development. Cadmium: It is confirmed carcinogenic. Chronic cadmium exposure is linked to gastrointestinal symptoms, anemia, rhinitis, and discoloration of teeth, micro fractures, pulmonary emphysema, and kidney disease. Chromium: (carcinogen): Cr VI compounds are known to cause cancer. Cr VI compounds can easily pass into the cell through the cell membrane and thereby act as sensitizers. A sensitizer leads to instigation of allergic reaction in some individuals. Nitric oxide: (Hemoglobin affinity): It reacts with hemoglobin to hinder oxygen uptake in the blood. Nitric oxide reacts with hemoglobin 1400 times more effectively than carbon monoxide reacts with hemoglobin. The toxicity of nitric oxide when combined with carbon monoxide (also in tobacco smoke) is additive. Pyridine: The vapor causes eye and upper respiratory tract irritation in humans. Exposure to pyridine results in an increased production of blood platelets (blood platelet proliferation). Long-term exposure to pyridine causes nausea, headache, insomnia, nervousness, and abdominal discomfort in humans. Quinoline (mutagen, genotoxic chemical): It causes genetic mutations and therefore increases the risk of cancer. Repeated exposure damages the retina of the eye, affecting vision. Quinoline exposure may lead to allergy, with rash and itching (sensitizer). It is a damaging irritant to the eyes, nose, throat, and bronchial tubes, and may cause sore throat, nosebleeds, cough, and phlegm. Absorption occurs both by inhalation and through the skin (Chambers 14). Hydroquinone (Eye damage): It leads to eye injury, skin irritation and central nervous system effects in humans. Resorcinol: It is found to be irritating to skin and eyes in humans. Catechol: In combination with benzo[a]pyrene acts as a co-carcinogen. Catechol causes increased blood pressure, upper respiratory tract irritation, and eczematous dermatitis in humans. Catechol causes kidney damage and convulsions following chronic exposure. Phenol: (somatic toxin): It is toxic to the respiratory, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, and neurological systems of animals. Higher doses of phenol may damage the lungs and central nervous system and induce convulsions in humans. Phenol is irritating to the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes in humans. Cresol: Cresol is a strong irritant to the skin that causes dermatitis in humans. Long-term exposure to cresol leads to headaches, nausea, vomiting, elevated blood pressure, impaired kidney function, blood-calcium imbalance, and marked tremors, in humans. Tar: This refers to the non-gaseous, non-nicotine, non-water chemicals in tobacco smoke. Nicotine: This is the chemical primarily responsible for the toxic effects of tobacco smoke. It is absorbed almost instantly by inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Nicotine accumulates in the brain, the kidney, the stomach mucosa, the adrenal medulla, the nasal mucosa, and the salivary glands. Studies show that nicotine exposure can result in seizures, vomiting, depressions of the central nervous system, growth retardation, developmental toxicity in fetuses, and pre mature birth with reduced body weight and brain development in animals. Mild nicotine poisoning in humans causes vomiting, diarrhea, increase in respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, headache and dizziness. Nicotine is considered responsible for many of the acute psychological and physiological effects of smoking, chewing, or inhaling tobacco. Carbon monoxide: This is one single chemical that has a proven record of damaging the respiratory system. Moreover, chronic exposure poses a life threat to humans. Carbon monoxide is absorbed into the blood, resulting in reduction in exercise tolerance, increased angina, and headaches. The main reason behind their ill effect is that it binds with hemoglobin, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Statistics reveal that 10% exposure leads to headaches and dizziness. Carbon monoxide is also a suspected reproductive toxin. Studies on pregnant animals show decreased birth weights, fetal death or damage at moderate levels of carbon monoxide. 1,3-butadiene: (Suspected human carcinogen): In combination with styrene, (also found in tobacco smoke) it may increase the risk of disease. The toxicity of 1,3-butadiene is increased by prolonged or repeated exposures. Isoprene: (Irritant) It affects skin, eye, and mucous membrane causing irritation. Acrylonitrile (vinyl cyanide) (toxin, reproductive poison) Acrylonitrile is highly toxic and is also a suspected carcinogen. Absorption of Acrylonitrile is from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract and through the skin. Benzene (Proven human carcinogen): It is a confirmed human carcinogen. It is known to cause leukemia in humans. Cumulative exposure to benzene is the most likely predictor of the possibility of developing leukemia. Benzene is highly toxic and causes chromosomal aberrations in humans and in animals (Perez-Stable, Herrera, Jacob, Benowitz 18). Toluene (toxin, depressant): It is highly toxic and it is a possible reproductive toxin. Inhaled toluene appears in blood circulation within 10 seconds and accumulates in body fat. Toluene is a depressant to the central nervous system in animals and in humans. Long-term exposure results in encephalopathy, headache, depression, lassitude, impaired coordination, transient memory loss, impaired reaction time, dizziness, nasal discharge, drowsiness, and a metallic taste in the mouth. Styrene: (carcinogen) It is a possible human carcinogen. Styrene has been found to produce headaches, ocular and conjunctiva irritation and slowed reaction time, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and reduced attention. Reproductive effects of styrene include a possible increased incidence of spontaneous abortion and increased number of abnormal sperm. (Sherman 5-8) As many as 35 chemicals have been proven to cause various kinds of damage to the human system. Carcinogenic Risks: The International Agency for Research on Cancer...