Chemicals and Cigarettes

Joanna E. Cohen, PhD

Johns Hopkins University
 Ingredients and
Smoke
Constituents

Image Source: CDC 2

Exposure and Dose

n  Exposure/dose
u  There are thousands of chemicals in cigarettes and cigarette smoke

n  Influenced by ...

u  How products are smoked—e.g., more puffs or deeper inhalation
u  Additives
•  Ammonia increases nicotine delivery
•  Theobromine and glycyrrhizin expand alveoli, increasing surface area for
absorption

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 Effects

Image Source: CDC 4

Effects (cont.)

n  Chemicals in smoke are

transported through the blood
stream to the liver, where they
undergo biotransformation
u  PAHs become carcinogenic
metabolites

n  Contract smooth muscle of

airway walls, impeding airflow
into lungs

n  Contract blood vessels,

decreasing blood flow

Image Source: CDC 5

Effects (cont.)

n  Local and systemic diseases

n  Damage DNA
n  Disrupt hormones
n  Oxidative stress
n  Inflammation
n  Tobacco-specific nitrosamines
can act as tumor promoters or
initiators
n  PAHs can cause genetic mutation
of a tumor suppressor gene

Image Source: CDC 6

Effects (cont.)

n  Lung diseases—emphysema,

chronic bronchitis, exacerbates
asthma and TB
n  Cardiovascular disease—strokes,
coronary heart disease
n  Unhealthy reproductive
outcomes
n  Diminished immune function
n  Diabetes
n  Arthritis

Image Source: CDC 7

Tar

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People ≠
Machines

Photo by Valentin Ottone via flickr.com. Creative Commons BY.

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Exposures and Effects

n  Exposure/dose are influenced by ...

u  Depth and frequency of inhalations
u  Extent to which filter vents are blocked

n  Biological/health effects

u  Negative effects on cells throughout the body
u  Acute and long-term negative health effects

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Policy Response to “Low-Tar” Cigarettes

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Flavors

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Impacts on Exposure/Dose

n  Exposure/dose
u  Mask harsh taste of tobacco
u  Easier to inhale
u  Especially attractive to youth (“starter products”)

n  Biological/health effects

u  “Flavored or not, cigars cause cancer, heart disease, lung disease and many other
health problems.” — CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH
u  True for all flavored tobacco products

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