Nicotine is the ingredient that keeps the smoker addicted to smoking. The chief destructive ingredient in a cigarette, however, is tar, the primary carcinogen. Tar is the tacky brown substance found at the end of a cigarette filter. This article aims to understand the harmful effects of tar smoking.
Concentration of Tar in Cigarette Smoking
The presence of tar increases as the cigarette burns down gradually. The last puff of a cigarette contains twice the amount of tar compared to the first puff. This is because, as the cigarette burns, the tar condenses, making each subsequent inhalation more toxic. Smokers unknowingly inhale significantly more harmful chemicals as they continue smoking the same cigarette.
Tar is a mixture of numerous chemicals, many of which are harmful. Research indicates that tar contains more than 7,000 chemicals, with at least 70 identified as known carcinogens. These chemicals coat the lungs, leading to various respiratory issues over time.
Based on the Concentration of Tar, Cigarettes Can Be Rated As:
High-Tar Cigarettes
These cigarettes contain at least 22 milligrams (mg) of tar. High-tar cigarettes have been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer and other serious diseases. According to the American Cancer Society, long-term smokers of high-tar cigarettes are 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to non-smokers.
Medium-Tar Cigarettes
These cigarettes contain between 15 mg and 21 mg of tar. While medium-tar cigarettes may seem like a safer option, they still pose significant health risks. Even at this level of tar, the harmful effects on the lungs and other organs are profound. Smokers of medium-tar cigarettes are still at a high risk of developing chronic respiratory diseases and cancers.
Low-Tar Cigarettes
These cigarettes contain up to 7 mg of tar or less. Although marketed as a “safer” alternative, low-tar cigarettes are not without risk. Studies show that smokers of low-tar cigarettes often compensate by inhaling more deeply or smoking more cigarettes, leading to nearly the same exposure to harmful chemicals as regular cigarettes.
Role of Filters in Tar Smoking
- The filter screens out some tar and nicotine to make smoking seem safer.
- It contains tiny invisible perforations.
- As smoke flows through the filter, it mixes with air.
- When the smoker inhales, they receive less smoke, more air, and thus less tar and nicotine.
- Though filters reduce the intake of harmful ingredients like tar in smoking, they do not make smoking truly safe.
- This is because there are several other carcinogens that pass into the body unchecked by the filters.
In fact, many smokers believe that using filtered cigarettes reduces their risk of disease, but this is a dangerous misconception. Filters do not eliminate the presence of harmful chemicals like tar and carbon monoxide. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, smokers who use filtered cigarettes are just as likely to develop lung cancer as those who smoke non-filtered cigarettes.
Effect of Tar Smoking on the Lungs
- No other organ is as badly affected by tar as the lungs.
- When the presence of tar is minimal, the lungs attempt to expel the tar through tiny hair-like structures called cilia.
- But as the concentration of tar increases with habitual smoking, the cilia become less effective. The openings in the lungs become clogged with tar, causing significant damage.
- This leads to lung diseases like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and cancer.
- Over time, the tar buildup causes a persistent cough, reduced lung function, and difficulty breathing.
- Though it is an uphill task, the only way to get rid of tar smoking’s effects is to stop smoking completely.
How Tar Damages the Lungs
Tar in cigarettes coats the cilia in the lungs, paralyzing and eventually destroying them. This impairs the lungs’ natural ability to clear out mucus, bacteria, and other harmful substances. Over time, this damage leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) such as emphysema and bronchitis. The World Health Organization estimates that 90% of COPD cases are related to smoking.
Moreover, the more tar a smoker inhales, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer. Tar is directly linked to DNA mutations in lung cells, causing abnormal growths and cancerous tumors. According to the CDC, smokers are 15-30 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.
Conclusion
Tar smoking is one of the most harmful aspects of cigarette consumption. Although nicotine keeps smokers addicted, tar is the substance responsible for many of the life-threatening diseases associated with smoking. The dangers of tar extend beyond just lung cancer, affecting nearly every part of the respiratory system.
While cigarette filters may reduce tar intake slightly, they do not eliminate the risks. The only true way to protect the lungs from the destructive effects of tar is to quit smoking. Reducing exposure to tar through cessation is essential to improving lung health and lowering the risk of developing chronic diseases and cancers.
