What makes cigarette smoke blue

Chemical compounds found in all phases of cigarette smoke have been associated with independent negative effects on the smoker, which means they produce their own separate damage. These are just some of these chemicals found in cigarette smoke:. These chemical names may not mean very much to most people until they realise where else these chemicals are found and then it becomes evident just how harmful they are. The following is a list of some chemicals found in cigarette smoke and where else they are found:.

Nicotine is the addictive component of tobacco products. It exerts its addictive action by stimulating the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, which happens within seconds of inhaling. Dopamine is a reward chemical, when it is released smokers experience a pleasurable feeling. Most smokers need to intake from 0. Nicotine has also been found to:. Incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances such as wood and oil produces carbon monoxide.

In the case of cigarettes the carbon-containing substance is tobacco. Other sources of CO include:. Carbon monoxide causes damage to the lungs by depriving the body of oxygen.

Oxygen is displaced from haemoglobin Hb due to the competitive binding of carbon monoxide. Hb is responsible for transporting oxygen through the body therefore if oxygen is unable to bind to Hb as a result of carbon monoxide it will reduce oxygen delivery to tissue. When body tissues do not have enough oxygen it causes a serious condition called hypoxia. Smokers can have as much as 10 times as much carbon monoxide in their bloodstream as non-smokers.

Exposure to large quantities of carbon monoxide is fatal. Tar is a mixture of the compounds in cigarette smoke which condensate turn from a gas to a solid once in the lungs to form a sticky brown substance, this is the cigarette smoke condensate.

Tar is the part of cigarette smoke which causes the yellow-brown stains on teeth and fingers. Tar is made of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and a wide range other chemicals.

These chemicals have short and long term effects on health. The short term effects include coughing and shortness of breath. The detrimental long term effects of tar have been known since the s when tumours grew on mice after their skin had been painted with the tar from cigarettes. The chemicals in tar are the main causes of lung and throat cancer among smokers. Part of the cancer causing effect of tar is because it interferes with immune cell cycle progression which results in significant reductions in immune responses.

This in turn increases the incidence of tumours and respiratory tract infections. The tar that remains in the lung causes cells to die. Some of the cells that are destroyed are cilia. Cilia are little hair-like structures that help move mucous out of the lung. Over time, loss of this cell function can lead to emphysema. While in the past a lot of study and emphasis has been placed on different strength cigarettes, it has since been found that one milligram of tar from one cigarette will contain equal amounts of carcinogens and cardiovascular toxicants as one milligram of tar in the next cigarette.

All cigarettes are dangerous and cause serious health consequences for you and those affected by the smoke from your cigarette. There are 5 main types of additives including processing aids, combustion aids, flavours, humectants and nicotine controllers. Ammonia compounds, carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol are used to make the cured tobacco less brittle and therefore make it easier to manufacture. Ammonium, sodium phosphate and sodium and potassium citrate are used to treat the cigarette paper which works to control the rate at which the cigarette papers burns.

Additives are also used to control the temperature of the burning cigarette. Humectants include sugars, glycerine and glycol compounds. They are used to keep the tobacco moist. Additives are used to aid the delivery of target doses of nicotine. Liquorice, cocoa, honey, fruit spices or fruit extracts can be used to improve the taste of cigarettes making them more palatable and appealing, especially for first-time smokers.

Chemicals contained in liquorice, coffee and cocoa dilate the airways and as a result the smoker will achieve greater doses of nicotine and tar. All flavours, especially sugars, mask the noxious taste of tobacco and the bitter taste of nicotine.

However, what needs to be taken into account is that these ingredients are inhaled into the lungs rather than ingested, which is not safe. Furthermore, additives contain chemicals whose effects may not be harmful if ingested individually but when added to cigarettes can heighten the powerful addictive effects.

Additives aid in making the cigarette an attractive option which increases the difficulty of quitting. Cigarettes are not classified as drugs or food and therefore do not have standards placed on them in order to control the agricultural chemicals that are used in farming the tobacco and the amount of chemicals that are left on the plant once they have been farmed.

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Using tobacco eats up a lot of money, too. That's a lot of computer games and clothes you could buy instead. Usually, people don't like smoking or chewing tobacco at first.

Your body is smart, and it knows when it's being poisoned. When people try smoking for the first time, they often cough a lot and feel pain or burning in their throat and lungs. This is your lungs' way of trying to protect you and tell you to keep them smoke free. Also, many people say that they feel sick to their stomachs or even throw up.

If someone accidentally swallows chewing tobacco, they may be sick for hours. If you have friends who smoke or use tobacco, you can help them by encouraging them to quit. Here are some reasons you can mention:. If you think it will help, you could print out articles like this one to give to a friend who smokes.

He or she may be interested in learning more about the dangers of smoking. But people don't like to hear that they're doing something wrong, so your pal also could be a little angry.

If that happens, don't push it too much. In time, your friend may realize you are right. In the meantime, it could help to talk with a parent or a school counselor if you're worried about your friend.

When your friend is ready, a grownup can help him or her quit for good. If your friend decides to quit, lend your support. You might say it's time to kick some butts!