Tobacco : Behind the Smoke (infographic)
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Organization: Health Canada
Date published: January 2019
The Tobacco Plant (Nicotiana)
Naturally contains 2,500 chemicals including nicotine, the highly addictive substance responsible for tobacco addiction.
Anatomy of a cigarette
Cigarette paper, shredded tobacco, filter
Smoking cigarettes
The burning of the tobacco releases 7,000+ chemicals including 70+ that are cancer-causing.
Toxic chemicals are absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and to the entire body.
Exposure to smoke
People who smoke, and everyone around them, are exposed to toxic chemicals, including:
- Tar
- Hydrogen cyanide
- Formaldehyde
- Carbon Monoxide
- Benzene
These can cause a number of adverse health effects, including:
- Cancer
- Respiratory diseases
- Cardiovascular illnesses
- Premature deaths
Take a closer look: Canada.ca/Tobacco