Top 21 contents in your Typical Cigarette.. and what they do

Some of these are shocking, some of these are appalling, but more importantly, most of these are lethal killers. So just think twice while puffing on the cigarette!

1) Acetone : Acetone is a colorless mobile flammable liquid

Use : It is most commonly used at home as an active ingredient in nail polish removers. It is also used to make plastic, fibers, drugs, and other chemicals.

Health risk : Swallowing high levels of acetone can result in unconsciousness and damage to the skin in the mouth.

2) Aluminum : Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal

Use : Aluminum alloys are a vital element in the manufacture of aircrafts, rockets, automobiles , trucks, railroad cars etc . It is also used for packaging cans and foil. Powdered aluminum is commonly used for silvering in paint.

Health risk: Aluminum is found to cause contact dematitis and also evidence of some degree of toxicity is seen if consumed in excessive amounts.

3.Ammonia : Ammonia at a standard temperature and pressure is a gas with a characteristic pungent odor.

Uses : It is mainly used in the production of fertilizers, explosives and polymers. It also finds a wide application in organic chemistry as a synthetic reagent.

Health risks: It is considered to be carcinogenic even in very small concentrations and on exposure fro longer durations it is considered a long term hazard to human health .

4. Arsenic : It is a poisonous metalloid.

Use : It is mainly used as a pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.

Health Risks: Arsenic and many of its compounds are considered potent poisons. Arsenic kills by massively disrupting the digestive system, leading to death from shock.

5. Benzene or benzol is a colorless and flammable liquid with a pleasant, sweet smell.

Use : It is mainly used as an industrial solvent and precursor in the production of drugs, plastics, gasoline, synthetic rubber, and dyes.

Health risks: Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. The major effect of benzene from chronic (long term) exposure is to the blood. Benzene damages the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia.

6. Butane : Butanes is a highly flammable, colorless, gas.

Use: It is used as a fuel for cigarette lighters and portable stoves and as propellants in aerosol sprays.

Health risks: Causes cancer.

7. Cadmium: A relatively rare, soft, bluish-white, toxic transition metal.
Use : used largely in batteries and mainly for pigments, coatings and plating, and as stabilizers for plastics.

Health risk: Inhaling cadmium could lead to respiratory tract and kidney problems, which can be fatal. Compounds containing cadmium are also carcinogenic.

9. Carbon monoxide : is a colorless, odorless, flammable and highly toxic gas.

Uses: Carbon monoxide and methanol are reacted together using a homogenous rhodium catalyst to form acetic acid.

Health risks: May cause nausea and vomiting. Inhalation can be very dangerous and fatal.

10. Carbon dioxide : is an atmospheric gas composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms.

Use : Liquid and solid carbon dioxide are important refrigerants, especially in the food industry, where they are employed during the transportation and storage of ice cream and other frozen foods.

Health risks: Inhalation Asphyxiant (suffocating) can cause hyperventilation.

11. Chloroform : It is a colorless liquid with a pleasant, nonirritating odor and a slightly sweet taste.

Use: Chloroform was used as an inhaled anesthetic during surgery. However, safer, more flexible drugs have entirely replaced it in this role. The major use of chloroform today is in the production of the Freon refrigerant R-22.

Health risk: Inhalation In high concentration may cause dizziness, unconsciousness, coma, and possible heart failure.

12. Cyanide: Hydrogen cyanide is a colorless gas with a faint, bitter, almond-like odor.

Use: used in electroplating, gold mining, metallurgy and jewellery for chemical gilding, buffing, and extraction of gold.

Health Risks: Symptoms of mild poisoning include vomiting, convulsions, deep breathing, shortness of breath and anxiety; more serious cases result in convulsions, and loss of consciousness.

13. DDT : It is a highly hydrophobic colorless solid with a weak, chemical odor.

Use : DDT has potent insecticidal properties.

Health Risk : DDT affects the nervous system. People who accidentally swallowed large amounts of DDT became excitable and had tremors and seizures.

14. Ethyl alcohol : also known as ethanol or grain alcohol, is a flammable, colorless chemical compound

Use : Ethanol is used as a fuel and in a wide variety of industrial processes. Ethanol is also used in antifreeze products.

Health Risks: Some of the acute effects include nausea, vomiting, CNS depression and respiratory failure in severe cases.

15. Formaldehyde : Is a chemical compound also known methanal, is a gas with a strong pungent smell.

Use : It is also used as a preservative in vaccinations. In medicine, formaldehyde solutions are applied topically to dry the skin, such as in the treatment of warts.

Health Risks: The acute effects are toxic in nature and may cause irritation to mucous membranes, difficulty breathing, lowered body temperature, lethargy, coma, and death. Some of the chronic effects include cancer of the nose and mucous membranes.

16. Hydrogen cyanide : Pure hydrogen cyanide is a colorless, very poisonous, and highly volatile liquid.

Use: Hydrogen cyanide is used in tempering steel, dyeing, explosives, engraving, the production of acrylic resin plastic, and other organic chemical products.

Health Risks : Inhalation is extremely dangerous and can include slow breathing rate, and irritation.

17. Lead : Lead is a very soft, highly malleable, bluish-white metal that has poor electrical conductivity.

Use: Lead is used in building construction and in the manufacture of lead-acid batteries, bullets and shot, and is part of solder, pewter, and fusible alloys.

Health Risks : Lead can damage nervous connections and cause blood and brain disorders. Long term exposure to lead or its salts can lead to nephropathy.

18. Methanol : It is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable and poisonous liquid

Use: It is used as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol and as an antifreeze, solvent and fuel.

Health Risks: It is considered poisonous by inhalation and may cause respiratory failure, kidney failure and blindness.

19. Nicotine : It is an organic compound found naturally in the tobacco plant, with a high concentration in the leaves.

Use: It is used as a nerve poison and hence used in many insecticides.

Health Risks: When consumed in small doses nicotine results in a stimulating effect, increasing activity, alertness and memory. However those who use Nicotine frequently develop a pleasant and relaxing effect to it and experience an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure and reduces ones appetite. When consumed in large doses it is known to cause vomiting and nausea.

20.Tar : is a black liquid derived from the destructive distillation of organic matter. Most tar is produced from coal as a byproduct of coal production.

Use : it is used for the flavoring for candies and alcohol as an anti -dandruff agent in shampoos as a disinfectant and as a component of cosmetics .

Health Risks: Studies have shown an increased risk of MI.

21. Vinyl chloride : Also known as chloroethene is an important industrial chemical and is chiefly used to produce its polymer, polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Use : Vinyl chloride's is mainly as an aerosol propellant. It was briefly used as an anesthetic however due to its toxic effects its use was abandoned.

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