Smoking

Addicted to smoking
• • If you smoke or know someone who smokes, you will know that
At the end of this topic you it is very hard to give up the habit. Smokers have a craving that
should be able to : is only prevented by having another smoke. That craving is partly
• state the main components of psychological but it is also physical. The body relies on the drug in
tobacco smoke tobacco smoke in order to function properly because its molecules
interact with synapses in our nervous system . That drug is nicotine
• describe the effects of tar on
and it is one of the most addictive substances known .
the airways
• explain why people become Nicotine is a stimulant. It stimulates the release of adrenaline leading
addicted to smoking to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This gives an increase
in mental alertness . Marijuana (ganga) contains a drug that has the
• outline the effects of nicotine
opposite effect. It has a calming effect and may induce a trance-like
and carbon monoxide on the
state and also cause hallucinations .
circulatory system .

a b
Dust These cells
particles make mucus
Synapses are tiny gaps between
nerve cel ls (see 8.4) . Many J.
drugs including heroin and
nicotine act on our synapses .

Figure 5.11.2 a Healthy lining of a bronchus of a non-smoker, b Lining of a

bronchus of a long-term smoker: the ciliated cells are replaced by
squamous cells.

Damage to the lungs

tube
Tar is the black sticky material that collects in the lungs as smoke
cools. It does not pass into the bloodstream. Tar irritates the lining of
the airways stimulating the epithelial cells to produce more mucus.
Contents of This tends to accumulate, narrowing the airways. Smokers cough to
cigarette smoke:
make this material move to the back of the throat (Figure 5.11.1).
Nicotine
Tar Tar causes the cilia on the cells that line the air passages to stop
Carbon monoxide
Carcinogens beating. Mucus and the dust, dirt and bacteria that stick to it,
r ""
((
rr-- \
are not removed from the lungs. The mucus accumulates and
-(f'\ ( ) bacteria mUltiply. White blood cells congregate where this happens,
~, , -'-.
particularly in the bronchi . The bronchi become blocked with
phlegm (a mixture of mucus, bacteria and white blood cells), which
Figure 5.11.1 A simple smoking people attempt to cough up . This condition is chronic bronchitis.
machine. Scientists have
People with this condition find it difficult to breathe as the bronchi
used more sophisticated
machines to mimic our are partly blocked (Figure 5.11 .2) .
smoking behaviour to
analyse the contents of
tobacco smoke.
Particles, bacteria and tar reach the alveoli. White blood cells digest
a pathway through the lining of the alveoli to reach the bacteria.
Eventually this weakens the walls of the alveoli so much that they Tobacco plants produce nicotine
break down and burst, reducing the surface area for gas exchange. as an insecticide to kil l insects
This condition is emphysema, which leaves people gasping for that try to eat the leaves. Tobacco
breath . They cannot absorb enough oxygen or remove carbon dioxide farmers harvest the leaves and
efficiently. Many long-term smokers have both of these conditions. dry them; manufacturers make
tobacco products, such as cigars
and cigarettes .
Effects on transport of oxygen
Carbon monoxide combines permanently with haemoglobin in
red blood cells so reducing the volume of oxygen that the blood
can carry. There may be as much as a 10% decrease in the oxygen
transported . This is particularly dangerous for pregnant women .

Lung cancer
90% of cases of lung cancer occur in people who smoke or w ho
have smoked. The cause of lung cancer is the carcinogens in tar.
These substances promote changes, known as mutation, to occur in
the DNA of cells lining the airways. These mutations cause the ce lls
to grow and divide out of control. This growth is very slow and it Lung cancer is often
may take 20 years before there are any symptoms. The cells form a '---=:.-----' diagnosed by taking X- rays.
tumour. If this is not discovered it may grow to occupy a large area Compare this with the X-ray
of healthy lungs in 5.10 .
of the lung pushing against airways and blood vessels to block them .
Worse, a part of the tumour may break off and spread into other
organs . If a tumour is discovered before it has spread then it may
be removed by surgery. If the tumour has spread, then the cancer is
much more difficult to treat (Figures 5.11.3 and 5.11.4).

SUMMARY QUESTIONS

1 State the components of tobacco smoke.

This cancer has spread
2 Smoking-related diseases are often classified as self-inflicted '---=-------' through the lung , blocking
diseases. Discuss whether or not this is true. blood vessels and airways.

3 Outline the effects of smoking on the gaseous exchange

system .
4 Explain why smokers find it hard to give up their habit.

1 Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco smoke.

2 Tar damages the lining of the airways, stimu lating excess
production of mucus and destroying ciliated cells .
3 Carcinogens in smoke cause lung cancer.
4 Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin in red blood
cel ls to reduce the blood's oxygen -carrying capacity.