The burning of a cigarette and the resulting smoke produce around 4000 different substances: a truly exorbitant number!
According to some studies, among these 4000 burned substances, there would be about 70 with carcinogenic activity. It should be remembered that any substance capable of giving rise to tissue neoformations with anomalous characteristics, in other words tumors, is defined as carcinogen.
But what are the main carcinogens of smoking and those certainly dangerous for human health?
In cigarette smoke, it is possible to find aromatic amines, various types of N-nitrosamines, formaldehyde, aromatic hydrocarbons, 1-3 butadiene and benzene. These are all carcinogens for both humans and animals, capable of damaging different organs and tissues. For example, 1-3 butadiene is an irritant of the upper airways and of the skin, while aromatic amines are some of the chemical agents favoring bladder cancer.
