Consider this:
With every puff of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, more than 4,000 chemicals are produced. Of these 4,000 chemicals, 43 are positively identified as causing cancer. If you were to consult this list of chemicals, you would be surprised to see what other substances share some of the same ingredients with gasoline similar to tobacco smoke, bathroom cleaners, and nail polish remover. Whether you are trying to protect your own health or the health of non-smoking family members, it is important to know exactly what chemicals are left in the air after smoking and what you need to do to remove them.
Your furniture, curtains, carpets, and walls are also affected by the chemicals found in cigarette smoke. You may have noticed that your walls are yellow or that there is an additional buildup or dust and ash particles on the furniture. Worst of all, the scent created by smoke seeps onto porous surfaces and is re-emitted over the years. If the time ever came to resell your home, it would literally cost you thousands of dollars to repair the damage caused by tobacco smoke.
To give you a better idea of the dangerous chemicals that a lit cigarette produces, here are some of the notably toxic ingredients in smoke, as well as some of the other substances that use these same chemicals:
Benzene also known as a gasoline additive – a very powerful carcinogenic chemical. Used as a solvent in fuels, it is a carcinogen and also a chemical directly related to leukemia.
Butane, also known as lighter fluid – a highly flammable chemical known to cause narcosis, suffocation, and cardiac arrhythmia.
Cadmium also known as battery content – Most of the time, cadmium is used in the production of batteries. It is known to cause cancer and is an occupational hazard that is very harmful if inhaled.
Formaldehyde also known as embalming fluid – this is the extremely poisonous chemical used to preserve corpses. It is known to cause cancer, respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal problems.
DDT also known as illegal insecticide– a synthesized chemical that kills both pests and non-pests. It is related to cancer (especially breast cancer), developmental and reproductive problems in humans.
Lead also known as wall paint – a poisonous metal that was once used in paint. Lead paint is no longer manufactured due to the danger of lead poisoning.
Naphthalene aka Moth Balls – Large amounts or exposure damage or destroy red blood cells.
Ammonia toilet bowl cleaner – This chemical is found in many cleaning products and is used in cigarettes as a kind of “flavor enhancer” that helps bring more nicotine into the bloodstream.
Acetone, also known as nail polish remover – a very toxic and volatile chemical present in cigarette smoke
Tar particles also known as ash – a particle of dust found in each puff of a cigarette. 70% of the tar inhaled in the lungs remains there (forever).
Nicotine also known as insecticide / addictive substance – Nicotine is said to be the most addictive substance for man and is considered a medical and non-medical poison.
Carbon monoxide, also known as car exhaust – an odorless and tasteless poison gas that is often used for suicide (driving a car in a closed garage) due to its rapid and fatal effects.
Arsenic also known as rat poison – cancer-causing element found in poisons and insecticides (farmers who used arsenic as an insecticide spray for fruit trees suffered brain damage)
Hydrogen cyanide, also known as gas chamber poison – This gas is so effective in killing humans that it was used in mass killings and executions, such as in the Holocaust. It is no longer used for executions, because it is speculated to be a very painful way to die.
The easiest way to keep the people you care about safe from these chemicals is to place an air filter, such as those made by Dynamic, in the room with you to neutralize the smoke as soon as it occurs. By using an air filter in conjunction with an air purifier, such as Biozone or Air Oasis, you will remove particulates and reduce odors dramatically.
This same two-step technology is perfect for commercial smoke removal applications such as bars and nightclubs, where air that has too much smoke draws customers away.
What is the best way to avoid health risks? Find a way to quit that works for you. The most important thing you can do is make the decision to quit smoking. Set a date to quit in the near future. Need help? Call the American Cancer Society Smoking Cessation Line: 1-800-ACS-2345