Approximately 75% of the cigar smokers do not inhale the smoke like the cigarette smokers. This fact may excite the smokers to consider cigar smoking as an alternative to cigarette smoking. But Cigar tobacco smoke contains more tar when compared to cigarette smoke. They are larger in size and this results in exposure to cancer causing chemicals for longer time. Moreover, cigars cause lots of indoor air pollution. Research now shows that the greatest threat to the cigar smokers is from the cancer causing substance present in the cigar tobacco called the Nitrosamine. This article tries to gain further insight.
Types of Cigars in United States and their Tobacco contents
Generally the cigars come in different shapes and sizes with the tobacco content anywhere between 1 gram and 20 grams.
| S.No. | Cigar Type | Tobacco Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Large Cigars | |
| 2. | Cigarillas | |
| 3. | Little Cigars |
What are the chemicals Nitrosamines:
The tobacco leaves are made to undergo a process called fermentation for 35-45 days. This process intends to remove the harmful nicotine, tar, ammonia, oils and sap from the tobacco leaves. In this process, the leaves are dried and piled over one another. The pressure of stacking, the heat and humidity sweat these leaves. This causes release of the impurities. But the substances which remain even after the fermentation process are the chemicals Nitrosamines. They are present in higher levels in cigar smoke than in cigarette smoke and can cause cancer.
Knowledge Gained From Research about Nitrosamines:
- In 1956, Two British Scientists, John Barnes and Peter Magee, found that these substances can cause cancer in rats.
- Further research on these substances proved that 90% of these substances are carcinogens. Carcinogens are substances which can cause cancer.
- Though these substances are present in other food items in very small amounts, their content is monitored by the rules and regulations of the United States government.
- But the presence of these substances in extremely high levels in cigars and other smokeless tobaccos are ignored for serving commercial interests.
- These chemical substances are the by products of nicotine.
- A single cigar contains nicotine equal to a pack of cigarettes in spite of undergoing the fermentation process.
- Though the cigar smoke is not inhaled, the high levels of nicotine in the cigar smoke gets absorbed in to the body through the saliva and the lining of the mouth.
- This leads to the infamous addiction to smoking because of nicotine.
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