Cigarette smoke can be divided into 2 phases Gaseous phase and a particulate phase.

◦ The gaseous phase contains CO and other dangerous gases.

◦ The particulate phase includes nicotine and tar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzopyrene, and nitrosamine, all of which induce malignant transformation.

Environmental diseases

Gaseous Phase (CO)

Particulate Phase

- shortness of breath

- neonatal problems

- nicotine (increases CHD risks)

- tar (increases cancer risks)

Cigarettes are like little chemical factories.When lit, they put out over 4,000 chemicals, 43 of which are known to cause cancer, as well as over 400 other poisons.

CO combines with hemoglobin more strongly than oxygen and therefore limits the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. (This explains why smokers are always out of breath.)

Neonatal problems from smoking during pregnancy are also related to poor oxygen delivery to the fetus

Nicotine is the addictive component in cigarettes and it also increases the risk of CHD due to decrease HDL, & increased platelet aggregation

Tar contains the carcinogenic compounds that lead to cancer. The compounds get stuck in the mouth, throat, esophagus and lungs and increase risk for cancers.

50% of smokers will die from smoking related illness, including heart disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer.

Smoke increases neutrophils in the lungs and release elastase that damage alveoli.

FETAL TOBACCO SYNDROME: ◦Low birth weight: 200 grams lighter (low birth weight for

gestational age) Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM)◦ Increased perinatal mortality, due to:

Increased risk of placental rupture uterine bleeding

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME: ◦Growth retardation ◦Characteristic facial features (epicanthal folds) ◦CNS dysfunction

Risks of Smoking to Fetus The risks of smoking to the fetus include: low birth weight, prematurity,

spontaneous abortion, and still birth.

Risks of Passive Smoking Passive exposure to cigarette smoke increases the risk of lung carcinoma

by a factor of 1.5. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and respiratory

disease.