Smoking Hazards

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ethylamine, 4-aminobiphenyl, and carbon monoxide. Medically speaking, the actual hazards of tobacco smoking are accentuated by the impact of side stream smoke. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is composed of both mainstream and side stream smoke. The air in the room dilutes ETS before it is inhaled and is therefore less concentrated than mainstream or side stream smoke (Philip Morris USA 9).
Cigarette smoke consists of several types of chemicals that differ in their chemical reactivity as well as hazard levels to humans. Some of the most common constituents in cigarette smoke are Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Monoxide, harmful particulates as well as harmful chemicals like aldehydes, ketones etc.
While smoking causes harm to the smoker, the people who are exposed to the smoke are also at risk. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) refers to exposure to tobacco smoke not from personal smoking, but from being exposed to someone else's cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke. ETS can also be described as the material in (indoor) air that originates from tobacco smoke. Exposure to ETS is known as passive smoking, second-hand smoke, or involuntary smoking. There are several proven risks of ETS with respect to the health and well being of an individual (Cunningham, O'Connor, Dockery, Speizer 23).
The extensive studies on the biological impacts of tobacco smoke, based on the chemical composition of cigarette smoke, show that the chemicals in smoke cause different effects on the body. For example:

Ammonia (Skin, and lung): Causes intense irritation, severe eye damage, and asthma.

2-aminonaphthalene (Carcinogen) Proven to cause cancer in humans. There is no safe exposure limit for 2-aminonaphthalene.

1-aminonaphthalene (Blood cancer): This chemical is said to cause lung and liver cancer. It also causes leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells).

4-aminobiphenyl (carcinogen): Proven to cause cancer in humans. This chem...