cause of adenocarcinoma, a particular kind of lung cancer.
disease risk.
Physicians has affirmed that the way in which nicotine causes addiction is
similar to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
itself to minute droplets in the tobacco smoke inhaled by the smoker. It is
absorbed by the body very quickly, reaching the brain within 10-19 seconds.
It stimulates the central nervous system, increasing the heart beat rate and
blood pressure, leading to the heart needing more oxygen. However,
compared to other components of tobacco, nicotine is relatively harmless.
Indeed, pure nicotine can be consumed safely in the form of nicotine
replacement therapy (e.g. gum, patches, lozenges etc) to help people stop
smoking. It works by helping smokers deal with nicotine cravings while
cutting down or stopping smoking. For more information on stopping
smoking see ASH's factsheets:
cigarette smoke. It binds to haemoglobin much more readily than oxygen,
thus allowing the blood to carry less oxygen. Heavy smokers may have the
oxygen carrying power of their blood cut by as much as 15%.
For further information see ASH's report on tobacco smoke composition.
Tobacco companies have known for decades that smoking is hazardous to
health and have invested significant resources in trying to produce less
dangerous products. These include attempts to reduce the carcinogens in
tobacco as well as the production of novel nicotine delivery systems. For
example, BAT has begun testing a new type of cigarette that includes a
specially treated tobacco and charcoal filter.
significant impact on reducing the risk of developing tobacco-related
diseases. By contrast, nicotine replacement products, which have been
subject to thorough safety checks and clinical trials, can help smokers reduce
their tobacco consumption as well as aiding complete cessation.
achieved by providing smokers with safer sources of nicotine that are
acceptable and effective cigarette substitutes. To achieve this, nicotine
product regulation must be reformed as there is currently little incentive for
companies to produce such products.