Tobacco Control and Smoking

Fact Sheet 6: Tobacco smoke is poisonous

Cigarette smoke is a mixture of over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are harmful to the human body.¹ All currently available tobacco products that are smoked deliver substantial amounts of toxic chemicals to their users and those who breathe their smoke. Cigarette smoke is a combination of:

• mainstream smoke - the smoke inhaled by a smoker;
• sidestream smoke - the smoke from the end of a lit cigarette; and
• secondhand smoke - the smoke exhaled by a smoker plus sidestream smoke.

Of the more than 4,000 chemicals present in cigarette smoke, more than 60 have been identified as cancer causing chemicals, 11 of which are known to cause cancer in humans and eight that probably cause cancer in humans. ¹

Cancer causing chemicals in tobacco smoke include: Benzene; 2-naphthylamine; 4-aminobiphenyl; Chromium; Cadmium; Vinyl chloride; Ethylene oxide; Arsenic; Beryllium; Nickel; and Polonium-210.^1,2
Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke include:

• Nicotine – the addictive agent in tobacco smoke;
• Formaldehyde – used in preservation of laboratory specimens;
• Ammonia – used in toilet cleaner;
• Hydrogen Cyanide – used in rat poison;
• Acetone – used in nail polish remover;
• Carbon monoxide - found in car exhaust;
• Tar - particulate matter in cigarette smoke;
• Toluene - found in paint thinners;
• Phenol – used in fertilisers.^1,2

These chemicals are considered toxic because they have serious health impacts on the human body. For example:

• Hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and tar cause, or are associated with, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive lung disease; ¹ and;
• Ammonia and formaldehyde cause eye, nose and throat irritations and other breathing problems.³

The chemicals present in mainstream, sidestream and second-hand smoke are similar; however the quantities of the various chemicals present differ. Sidestream smoke is generated at lower temperatures and under different conditions than mainstream smoke, and consequently it contains higher concentrations of many of the toxins found in mainstream smoke. ⁴

Approximately one non-smoker dies due to second-hand smoke exposure for every eight smokers who die of smoking related disease. ⁵ Second-hand smoke has been designated a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). ⁴

Further, about half of regular smokers will die of a smoking-related disease and have a reduced life expectancy of between 13 and 16 years compared to non-smokers. ^6,7

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in New Zealand. It is directly linked to almost 5,000 deaths each year in this country – that means about 13 New Zealanders die every day from smoking. ⁸

Want to quit smoking? The most important thing is to make a quit attempt. For help, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, quit smoking provider or call the Quitline on 0800 778 778 or visit The Quit Group web site at www.quit.org.nz