Is cigarette as harmful as they say it is?

Question

patois · Accepted Answer

It has some risks...

This report reviews the literature on the genotoxicity of mainstream tobacco smoke and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) published since 1985. CSC is genotoxic in nearly all systems in which it has been tested, with the base/neutral fractions being the most mutagenic. In rodents, cigarette smoke induces sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei in bone marrow and lung cells. In humans, newborns of smoking mothers have elevated frequencies of HPRT mutants, translocations, and DNA strand breaks. Sperm of smokers have elevated frequencies of aneuploidy, DNA adducts, strand breaks, and oxidative damage. Smoking also produces mutagenic cervical mucus, micronuclei in cervical epithelial cells, and genotoxic amniotic fluid. These data suggest that tobacco smoke may be a human germ-cell mutagen. Tobacco smoke produces mutagenic urine, and it is a human somatic-cell mutagen, producing HPRT mutations, SCEs, microsatellite instability, and DNA damage in a variety of tissues. Of the 11 organ sites at which smoking causes cancer in humans, smoking-associated genotoxic effects have been found in all eight that have been examined thus far: oral/nasal, esophagus, pharynx/larynx, lung, pancreas, myeoloid organs, bladder/ureter, uterine cervix. Lung tumors of smokers contain a high frequency and unique spectrum of TP53 and KRAS mutations, reflective of the PAH (and possibly other) compounds in the smoke. Further studies are needed to clarify the modulation of the genotoxicity of tobacco smoke by various genetic polymorphisms. These data support a model of tobacco smoke carcinogenesis in which the components of tobacco smoke induce mutations that accumulate in a field of tissue that, through selection, drive the carcinogenic process. Most of the data reviewed here are from studies of human smokers. Thus, their relevance to humans cannot be denied, and their explanatory powers not easily dismissed. Tobacco smoke is now the most extreme example of a systemic human mutagen.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S138357420400064X?via%3Dihub

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I think the worse thing about cigarettes is the additives. Cigarettes are not pure tobacco.

The industry has acknowledged using 599 different cigarette additives.

Reconstituted tobacco, referred to as “sheet,” is a major ingredient in modern cigarettes; sheet is manufactured from recycled stems, stalks, scraps, collected dust, and floor sweepings.7 Those materials are ground up, nicotine is extracted from them, and chemicals, fillers, glue, and other agents are added to the slurry. The sheet is then pressed out and puffed, with the previously extracted nicotine sprayed onto it, and ground into tiny curls before being incorporated into cigarettes at the desired level.

Numerous chemical agents, including gamma-heptalactone, gamma-valerolactone, gamma-decalactone, delta-decalactone, gamma-dodecalactone, delta-undecalactone, and gamma-hexalactone, are mild to weak inhibitors of coumarin-7-hydroxylases (also known as CYP2A5 and CYP2A6; these are enzymes within the P450 enzyme system that metabolize compounds in the body).

Acetaldehyde is formed in high concentrations when cigarette constituents, including sugars, are burned.

Some tobacco is GMO.

And then there are the agricultural chemicals that are sprayed on tobacco crops.

Booklover_90 · Accepted Answer

Absolutely. After years of smoking, many people have not only gotten lung cancer, but have had strokes and heart attacks as well. It’s not worth it.

dustybiker2 · Accepted Answer

Pretty sure that's proven.

elaphe · Answer

Yes, it significantly increases cancer risk in the form of lung, pancreatic, stomach, laryngeal, tracheal, bladder, renal, and leukemia. It greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. It also increases the risk of dementia and ruptured vertebral disks. If that is not enough, it increases blood clots, which can cause post-surgical complications like pulmonary emboli. My grandmother dies after surgery from this. The surgeon said she probably would have survived if she didn't smoke. Some will say they know of someone who was a smoker who lived a long life. These are exceptions to the rule. My father smoked for yeas and lived to be 60 after dying of cancer. My grandfather smoked for years and died at 50 from a heart attack.

on_my_knees · Answer

Did you know that lung cancer was a rare disease prior to the 1900s? Probably because they weren't sitting around smoking mass-produced cigarettes at three packs a day. Cigarettes aren't harmful. Stupidity is harmful, which is what the government really tried to protect people from if you think about it.

blueonblack22 · Answer

While I sometimes think anti-smoking advocates exaggerate statistics and side effects everybody can virtually agree it’s going to shorten your life one way or another. There is just nothing good about it, period.

But there is a reverse psychology effect for some people when something is so taboo they feel tempted to do it anyway just to be rebellious.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

I believe they are. I have family that died of cancers likely caused or exacerbated by smoking cigarettes.
Don’t do it, kids! It smells nasty. It looks dumb. It leads to addiction, which is only one of the many diseases smoking is linked to. Many others result in life altering conditions and excruciatingly slow and ugly deaths.
Take up hula hooping instead!

Charliefretz329 · Answer

Lots of things are harmful. I think cigarettes are not harmless but you need to look at the whole picture. Also that each person has their own weaknesses and strengths. A buddy of mine got emphysema after only a year of smoking. An aunt of mine smoked for over 80 years. Many coworkers probably got cancer from the toxic chemicals we are exposed to. But those who smoked didn’t do themselves a favor.

AviatorTom · Answer

Almost 2 million people die from lung cancer each year, worldwide. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Do the math..

exitseven · Answer

It is probably one of the worse things that you can do,

andreasderjuengere · Answer

It's healthy. And the world is flat. :D :D :D

summiter · Answer

Yes it is... you are putting smoke and chemicals in ur body and lungs with every puff

Apple1996 · Answer

Yess the cause cancer

Jaz2022 · Answer

very much so it can cause a lot

Dargil · Answer

Other than heart disease, emphysema, lung cancer and high blood pressure, maybe not.

Zbrody1997 · Answer

Smoking anything is bad on your lungs. Your lungs hate smoke.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Worse even. It's a plague of unnecessary death and destruction.

Unit1 · Answer

I let others find out for me. They're plentiful.

SotiCoto · Answer

They're utterly disgusting. What more do you need?

RebelinSteel · Answer

Very much so, if not worse

Account · Answer

Yes and this is coming from a smoker.

jshm2 · Answer

No. Alcohol is worse.

Flower2006 · Answer

I don’t really think it is

Chris_68 · Answer

it's worse than they say...

Cheerguy · Answer

Yes my mom nearly got lung cancer from it

MemeSupreme · Answer

go and find out

WintersDaughter · Answer

YES IT IS

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

Yes.

Pterodon · Answer

Worse

JacobJordan · Answer

No. Its worse

jahaims · Answer

Worse

handsomelad70 · Answer

Yep.

Is cigarette as harmful as they say it is?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Is cigarette as harmful as they say it is?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.