Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Dental Did You Know: Six Toxins Present in Tobacco Smoke

Health Canada has identified the top 6 toxins present in tobacco smoke that are likely to cause harm in humans:

  1. Tar - a sticky black residue containing hundreds of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic or classified as hazardous waste.
  2. Nicotine - occurs naturally in tobacco plants but it's highly addictive and is also used as an herbicide and insecticide.
  3. Carbon Monoxide - a deadly gas the reduces the ability of red blood cells to deliver oxygen to tissues causing most of its damage to your heart, brain and lungs.
  4. Formaldehyde - a probable human carcinogen and registered pesticide.
  5. Hydrogen Cyanide - one of the most toxic agents in tobacco smoke. Many of the short and long-term effects of cigarette smoke have been associated with this chemical.
  6. Benzene - This is a Group 1 carcinogen and has been declared toxic by the Canadian Environmental Act. Benzene is believed to be harmful at any level of exposure.



Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 4.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100