| | | | | Acetaldehyde - a flammable liquid used in making |
| Tobacco smoke has a lot of poisonous chemicals that | | | | perfumes. It occurs naturally in apples, broccoli, cheese |
| can affect both smokers and nonsmokers. What are | | | | and other vegetables. It can irritate the eyes and |
| these substances? Below is a short list of those | | | | mucous membranes, increase blood pressure, and |
| chemicals taken from “The Book of Lists #2” | | | | decrease the number of red and white blood cells. |
| by Irving Wallace, David Wallechinsky, Amy Wallace, | | | | Large doses can lead to death by respiratory |
| and Sylvia Wallace: | | | | paralysis. |
| Acrolein - a toxic, colorless liquid with irritating vapors. | | | | Pyridine – a flammable liquid that may cause central |
| Carbon monoxide - a tasteless, odorless gas which | | | | nervous system depression and irritation of the skin |
| robs the tissues of life-giving oxygen. It’s the same | | | | and respiratory tract. Prolonged use can lead to kidney |
| foul stuff your car exhaust emits. | | | | and liver damage. |
| Ammonia - a gaseous compound used in the | | | | Methyl chloride - a toxic gas used in the production of |
| manufacture of explosives and disinfectants. It is | | | | rubber and in gasoline. |
| irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes and can | | | | Acetonitrile - a toxic compound used in making plastics, |
| cause burns and blistering. | | | | rubber, and insecticides. |
| Formic acid - a colorless, pungent and highly corrosive | | | | Methanol - a poisonous liquid alcohol with a nauseating |
| liquid used in processing textile and leather. Exposure | | | | odor. Large amounts may cause vomiting, impaired |
| to the acid causes blistering and irritates the mucous | | | | perception, stupor, coma, and death. It is used in rocket |
| membranes. Cancer has been reported in laboratory | | | | fuels and in automobile antifreezes. |
| animals. | | | | Arsenic - a highly poisonous compound that causes |
| Hydrogen cyanide – an extremely poisonous liquid | | | | nausea, vomiting, and death. |
| used in some countries in executing criminals. | | | | After reading about these dangerous chemicals |
| Formaldehyde - a colorless gas used in nail hardeners, | | | | contained in cigarettes, some smokers may switch to |
| nail polish and shampoos despite its toxic effects. | | | | low-tar brands, thinking they can lessen or escape |
| Indigestion can cause severe abdominal pain, internal | | | | from the harmful effects of tobacco that way. |
| bleeding, vertigo, coma and death. May react with | | | | Unfortunately, that strategy won't work. Although the |
| other chemical agents to produce mutagenic and | | | | average tar and nicotine content of cigarettes have |
| carcinogenic effects. | | | | been reduced during the last 30 years, there is still no |
| Phenol - used in shaving creams, hand lotions and | | | | such thing as a safe cigarette. Switching to a low-yield |
| other commercial products even after many cases of | | | | brand is simply not the answer. (Next: Diseases from |
| poisoning have been reported. Small amounts can | | | | smoking. |
| cause nausea, vomiting, paralysis and convulsions. | | | | |