Smoking is something that millions of Americans do every day and companies profit millions of dollars every year through the sales of cigarettes, but at what cost? Five dollars a pack for a cancered lung and a heart attack. A deadly addiction comparable to heroin or cocaine, cigarettes are the only product that efficiently kills more than five million people year -- one million in the Americas-- and is still legal. The damage that it causes does not surface until years later after habitual use. The government should issue a federal ban on cigarettes because of the adverse health effects..
Smoking is a dangerous and addictive habit; each year about 440,000 people perish in the United States due to tobacco smoking (Maugh). From those 440,000 more than a third of them are from heart disease. Cigarettes increase the chance of heart disease and stroke and various types of cancers ranging from lung to pancreatic cancer, and is the leading cause of premature death in developing countries. In adults, smoking causes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, for infants it causes sudden infant death syndrome and causes low birth weight (WHO). The most common diseases that tobacco cause involve the lungs and the heart.
When lighting up a cancer stick, stop for a second, and ponder about the ingredients that it contains; that little stick accommodates 4,000 different chemicals composed of different gases and particles made up of water, tar and nicotine. The tar has hundreds of chemicals and many of these chemicals are poisonous and known to cause cancer such as Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Benzpyrene.
The main chemical in cigarettes is nicotine; one of the most addictive substances to man and the chemical that causes the addiction that p...
... middle of paper ...
...mier. EBSCO. Web. 2 Jan. 2010.
Novick, Andrew. “Nicotine.” 2002. 02 Jan. 2010 http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/par16.htm
Praetor, Robert N. “Commentary: Schairer and Schönigers forgotten tobacco epidemiology and Nazi quest for racial purity.” International Journal of Epidemiology 30(2001): 31-34. Web. 15 Dec. 2009.
Rubin, Rita. “FDA: Sweet flavored cigarettes cannot be sold.” USA Today 22 Sept. 2009.
Salmon, Matt. “A much-needed alternative.” USA Today 4 Nov. 2009
Schooler, Caroline, Ellen Feighery, and June A. Flora. "Seventh Graders' Self-Reported Exposure to Cigarette Marketing and its Relationship to Their Smoking Behavior." American Journal of Public Health 86.9 (1996): 1216. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 26 Jan. 2010.
WHO, “10 facts about tobacco and second-hand smoke.” 2009. 01 Jan 2010. http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/tobacco/en/
Smoking can cause many lung and heart diseases as well as many forms of cancer.
Cigarettes (and its tobacco-related counterparts) have remained to this day, the most readily available and highly addictive substance that’s in legal America and “continues to be the leading cause of preventable death around the world” (Wascher). The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal in America because it manipulates people into adopting unhealthy lifestyles, encourages children to try smoking, and it subsequently shortens the lifespan of the smoker and those who surround them (second-hand smokers), by increasing the risk of adverse health effects.
Tobacco smoking is linked to at least 17 different types of cancer such as lung cancer and oral cancer, and it leads to more than six million deaths per year. The smoke itself is made up of a large mixture of chemicals, at least 60 being carcinogens, substances that can lead to cancer. The way in which these substances cause cancer is by damaging the DNA which can lead to mutations in the cancer gene. The carcinogen
First, smoking can cause at least twelve different cancers, the deadliest of the twelve being lung cancer. The filthy habit of smoking cigarettes is the leading risk factor in not only developing this horrible disease, but eventually and inevitably dying from it. In addition to lung cancer one who smokes may also be diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or asthma. COPD and asthma both affect the lungs by making it hard to breath. While, asthma does not initially come from smoking it certainly makes having it worse. Having either COPD or asthma really depletes one’s everyday life by making a simple walk to
Nicotine is an infamous chemical substance that is often found in tobacco. Tobacco contains several hundred chemical compounds and has been known to cause many dangerous health issues, primarily to the respiratory system, such as coughing, asthma, and in many cases, lung cancer. However, it is not nicotine itself that causes these health issues, but rather, it is other chemicals, mainly tar, that lead to damage in the respiratory system. That is not to say that nicotine is harmless. On the contrary, nicotine is a stimulant and it is the major cause of why tobacco is so addicting (Benowitz, 2008). An advocate for this claim, could argue that nicotine is more dangerous than tobacco itself due to the addiction that it can cause. This point of
There are over 7,000 chemicals present in tobacco smoke. Of those over 250 are deemed harmful, and of those 69 are cancer causing. Those cancer causing substances are called carcinogens (Nugel). It is clear that cancer and smoking can be linked. Smoking causes cancer of the lung esophagus, larynx, mouth,...
Smoking tobacco has long been an accepted form of recreational drug use despite a history of flip-flops of public opinion. The negative effects of smoking were not thought of or even known until the early 1900’s. (“Introduction to Smoking”) Over the last few decades there has been an ever increasing surge in the United States and all over the world to ban smoking in public places. The goals of these smoking bans are to prevent the numerous diseases and health complications that are produced from exposure to the toxic smoke and to improve the overall health of society. Some disagree with these motives by claiming that smoking bans have not actually saved any lives or prevented people from taking up the habit. Contrarily, global research now actually shows that smoking tobacco kills people both directly and indirectly; indirectly, of course, referring to second-hand smoke. Another argument against these smoking bans is that a number of people feel as though they infringe upon their individual rights. These people believe they have a right to smoke tobacco anywhere they choose; not unlike many people who also believe they have a right to avoid forced exposure to deadly second-hand smoke. One might wonder which of the two takes precedence. Another very important thing to consider is while these smoking bans may appear to have a good intent they present to society a difficult scenario if imposed and maintained; they threaten to set a precedent for the restriction of other freedoms that humanity may take for granted. Smoking bans may be justifiable but, like many other prominent moral dilemmas, it may take centuries if not millennia to satisfactorily answer the questions brought forth by the issue.
. Smoking is the leading cause of death by cancer. 1 out of every 5 deaths occurring in America is due to its cancerous effects. The Center for Disease Control estimates that over 46 million Americans smoke cigarettes daily. The International Agency for Research on Cancer is a world health organization that identifies causes of cancer. Through the use of patterns and lab results they can classify certain elements as carcinogens. A carcinogen can be defined as any substance or toxin that is known to produce cancer. There are more than 6000 of these cancer producing toxins found within cigarettes. Arsenic, Benzene, and Vinyl chloride are just a few of the most harmful carcinogens used by tobacco companies. Vinyl chloride is a basic component in manufacturing plastic. Excessive exposure to vinyl chloride has been proven to be pre-cancerous ultimately manifesting into full blown malignant cancer. The most notable effect of vinyl chloride is the cause of...
Through public education, most elementary school kids can understand that smoking is bad for them and that cigarettes are additive. Cigarettes are addictive due to nicotine, a drug found in tobacco (“Quitting Smoking”, 2015). According to Schneider (2016), some of the greatest health problems associated with smoking include: lung cancer, other cancers, coronary heart disease, other heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, other vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), prenatal conditions, and sudden infant death syndrome. As stated by the Authority of the American Lung Association in an article titled “Health
This year alone cigarettes will kill over 420,000 Americans, and many more will suffer from cancers, and circulatory and respiratory system diseases. These horrible illnesses were known to come from cigarettes for years. Recently the Food and Drug Administration declared nicotine, the main chemical in cigarettes, addictive. This explains why smokers continue to use cigarettes even though smokers are aware of the constantly warned about health dangers in cigarettes. Some researchers have also found out that smoking by pregnant women causes the deaths of over 5,000 babies and 115,000 miscarriages. The only way to get rid of the suffering and loss of life by cigarettes is to ban them. . For years cigarettes have been known to cause cancer, emphysema, and other horrible illnesses. The deaths of over 420,000 of Americans this year will be do to cigarettes. With all the other causes of deaths, alcohol, illegal drugs, AIDS, suicide, transportation accidents, fires, and guns, cigarettes still count for more deaths than those do combined. We can’t stand and watch people die because they smoke cigarettes. Thousands of smokers try to rid themselves of cigarettes but can't because of additive nicotine. Nicotine was recently declared addictive by the Food and Drug Administration, which explains why many smokers continue to smoke despite the health warnings on cigarette smoking. Nicotine makes it almost impossible for cigarette smokers to quit smoking because of its addictive nature, and with the cigarette manufacturers putting just enough nicotine in the so they cant be outlawed. The benefits of outlawing cigarettes greatly outnumber the disadvantages, for example, many scientists believe a link between smoking and a shortened life span exists between the two, a ban on cigarettes could increase life spans. Many studies suggest that billions of dollars now spent on smoking related. Smoking related illnesses could be reduced by outlawing cigarettes, families could save money by not purchasing cigarettes, and accidental fires costing millions of dollars caused by cigarettes would stop. Although a complete ban on cigarettes currently remains almost impossible, several organizations recently helped create a bill that could control cigarettes much in the same way the government now controls drugs. One such organization, the Food and Drug Administration, headed by David Kesslar drafted a major part, which would require manufacturers to disclose the 700 chemical additives in cigarettes, reduce the level of harmful chemicals, require cigarette companies to warn of the addictive nicotine, restrict tobacco advertising and promotion, and control the level of nicotine cigarettes contain.
Some of the chemicals found in cigarettes are Acetone, which is found in nail polish remover and Acetic Acid, an ingredient in hair dye. A common household cleaner called ammonia is found in tobacco cigarettes. Arsenic used in rat poison, is used in tobacco products also. Benzene which is found in rubber cement and Butane which is used in lighter fluid is found in cigarettes as well. An active component in battery acid called Cadmium and carbon monoxide are also chemicals found in cigarettes. Formaldehyde, hexamine and lead are chemicals present in cigarettes. A main ingredient in rocket fuel called methanol and tar which is a material for paving roads, are also a few of the deadly chemicals that tobacco cigarettes contain. (What's in a Cigarette? American Lung Association)
Every year new medical reports are issued regarding the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world die every year from diseases caused by smoking. Approximately one in two lifetime smokers will die from their habit. Half of these deaths will occur in middle age. The most common of the diseases caused by smoking is cancer, of course. Not only is it a cause of lung cancer, but cancer of the larynx, and the esophagus, and it contributes to the development of cancers of the bladder, pancreas, and kidney. Lung cancer comes from the tar in the cigarettes. The tar coats your lungs like soot in a chimney. It does not make a difference if a smoker changes to low-tar cigarettes because smokers will take a deeper puff to get the same affect as a regular cigarette. This causes them to draw the tar deeper into their lungs causing even more damage. The Surgeon General requires that every package of cigarettes has one of the following statements: SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy. SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide. Despite these warnings most of the population is not aware of the other illnesses that can develop...
Like I stated before, cigarettes are made up of more than 4,000 toxic chemicals that enter your body considered as poisons. Cigarettes mostly have a tobacco blend, paper, PVA glue to bond the outer layer of paper together, and producers often also a cellulose acetate–based filter in the cigarettes. They contain over 100 ingredients, and to mention just a few of them, one is called Cadmium which is used in batteries; That has to be healthy right? Cigarettes also contain Arsenic which is a lethal poison that is used to kill mammals, and Naphthalene which is a moth repellent. Led is the last ingredient I will tell you about because it can lead to many health problems like memory loss, and abdominal pain.
Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. The American Lung Association says that cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals. Many of these chemicals have been proven to be cause cancer. Many of these chemicals also affect the nonsmoker who inhales "secondhand" smoke, which makes secondhand smoke another major caus...
Cigarette makers know that nicotine addiction helps sell their products. Nicotine is the main ingredient in tobacco that causes addiction. Nicotine activates the parts of the brain that control feelings and pleasure. It only takes minutes for the effects of nicotine to disappear causing the smoker to take another puff to keep feeling good. (Junior Scholastic, 2006) When you utilize tobacco products, nicotine is expeditiously absorbed into your bloodstream. Within 10 seconds of entering your body, the nicotine reaches your brain. It causes the brain to relinquish adrenaline, engendering a buzz of pleasure and energy. The buzz fades expeditiously though, and leaves you feeling tired, a little down, and wanting the buzz again. This will result in lighting up another cigarette. Since your body is able to build up a high tolerance to nicotine, you’ll need to smoke more and more cigarettes to receive nicotine’s pleasurable effects and obviate withdrawal symptoms. This cycle will only continue to repeat resulting in addiction. Although for many once they’ve reached this point it seems almost impossible to quit smoking even when they want to. ("Nicotine and Tobacco Add...