Cigarette smoke: what's in it?

There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke. Many of these chemicals are poisonous and at least 43 of them are carcinogenic (cause cancer). The 3 major chemicals in tobacco smoke are:

  • nicotine — the chemical on which smokers become dependent;
  • tar — which is released when a cigarette burns; and
  • carbon monoxide (CO) — a colourless, odourless and very toxic gas that is taken up more readily by the lungs than oxygen. Smokers typically have high levels of CO in the blood.

For more information, please click on the Australian Drug Foundation's DrugInfo Clearinghouse web site link below.
australian drug foundation logo


 

myDr, 2002. Reproduced with kind permission from the Australian Drug Foundation.
©Copyright: myDr, UBM Medica Australia, 2000-2012. All rights reserved.


Last Reviewed: 20 September 2006

Sponsored links

myDr Newsletter

Get myDr delivered to your inbox
Privacy Policy
Advertisement
See your doctor for diagnosis MIMS Consumer Health Group logo UBM Medica logo Hitwise Top 10 website This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. HealthInsite Quality Health Information ABA audited website - click to view latest stats
This web site is intended for Australian residents and is not a sbstitute for independent professional advice. Information and interactions contained in ths Web site are for infomation purposes only and are not intended ot be used to diagnose,treat , cure or prevent any disease.Further , the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information available on this web site cannot be guaranteed. UBM Medica Australia Pty Ltd, its affiliates and their respective servants and agents do not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incured by use of or relance on the information made available via or throught myDr whether arising from negligence or otherwise.
See Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.