Tobacco - NHS Inform

Tobacco

Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals including:

• nicotine
• carbon monoxide
• tar
• toxic chemicals such as benzene, arsenic and formaldehyde

Nicotine

Although nicotine is a very addictive substance it’s relatively harmless. It’s the carbon monoxide, tar and other toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke that’ll cause serious damage to your health.

Clean forms of nicotine, like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are licensed to help people quit smoking. These might be patches or gum for example. They’re are much safer than smoking as they’re nicotine only. They don’t have other additives or toxic chemicals, and are proven to be safe and effective.

Read more about nicotine replacement therapy

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which takes the place of oxygen in your blood. This forces your heart to work much harder and stops your lungs from working properly.

Your cells and tissues will be prevented from getting the oxygen they need. This can lead to heart disease and stroke.

If you smoke during your pregnancy, carbon monoxide prevents your baby getting the oxygen it needs.

Read more about smoking and pregnancy

Tar

Tar is the sticky brown substance that stains the teeth when people smoke. It also causes the fingers to turn yellow-brown.

Tar contains cancer causing particles (carcinogens).

Tar damages your lungs by narrowing the small tubes (bronchioles) that absorb oxygen. It also damages the small hairs (cilia) that help protect your lungs from dirt and infection. This lead to a range of lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema.

Using tobacco

Tobacco comes in many forms including:

• cigarettes
• rolling tobacco
• illicit tobacco

Cigarettes

Cigarettes are the most common type of tobacco product in Scotland. Cigarette tobacco products contain:

• 2 main tobacco leaf varieties
• fillers including stems and other waste products
• water
• flavourings
• additives

The additives are used to make the cigarette more palatable to the user. 600 different additives are currently permitted for use in cigarettes in the UK, like:

• moisturisers to prolong shelf life
• sugars to enable the smoke to be more easily inhaled
• flavourings such as chocolate and vanilla

These additives can be toxic when:

• combined with other substances or
• burned during smoking

Rolling tobacco

Many people who smoke roll-ups don’t use a filter. If you don’t use a filter, you’ll inhale more tar and nicotine. This means you’ll become highly addicted and dependent on smoking.

Roll-ups are at least as harmful for you as ordinary cigarettes, and can cause the same health risks. Compared to people who smoke manufactured cigarettes, people who smoke roll-ups have an increased risk of cancer of the:

• mouth
• oesophagus
• pharynx
• larynx

Illicit tobacco

Illicit tobacco is tobacco that has been smuggled into Scotland illegally. This can be packaged to look like your regular brand. It can be either rolling tobacco or cigarettes. Whilst it may be cheaper than legal tobacco, it comes at a cost.

The ingredients of illicit tobacco aren’t known or regulated. Illicit tobacco could contain higher levels of harmful chemicals.

If you’ve used illicit tobacco before you can save even more money, without risking your health, by stopping smoking completely.

Try the cost calculator to find out how much you could save by stopping smoking.

Quit Your Way Scotland

Contact Quit Your Way Scotland to find out how safe forms of nicotine can be used to help you stop smoking.