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Tobacco

It is generally assumed that the major motivational factor behind smoking is the nicotine it contains. However, the practice of ingesting the smoke from a smouldering leaf generates an enormous number of active chemical compounds, loosely lumped together as 'tar', many of which are biologically reactive and potential health dangers. (Nevertheless, the practice of chewing tobacco, which does not involve heat and therefore does not generate these compounds, is also carcinogenic). There are around 3000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke.

 Below are chemicals of known or suspected carcinogenicity.

Carcinogenic :   

                4-Aminobipheny
                Cadmium 
                Cadmium
                2-Naphthylamine 
                Nickel
                Polonium-210
                Radon 
                Vinyl chloride
                Formaldehyde

 

 Probably Carcinogenic :

Acrylonitrile 
Acetaldehyde  
Benzo[a]anthracene
Benzo[α]pyrene
Benzo[b]fluoranthene
Benzo[j]fluoranthene
Benzo[k]fluoranthene
1,3-Butadiene
Dibenz[a,h]acridine
Dibenz[a,j]acridine
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene
7H-Dibenz[c,g]carbazole
Dibenzo(a,i)pyrene
Dibenzo(a,I)pyrene
1,1-Dimethylhydrazine

Probably Carcinogenic :

Hydrazine
Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene
Lead
5-Methylchrysene
4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-
pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)
2-Nitropropane
N-Nitrosodiethylamine
N-Nitrosodiethanolamine
N-Nitrosomethylethylamine
N-Nitrosomorpholine
N'-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN)
N-Nitrosopyrrolidine
Quinoline
iv ortho-Toluidine Urethane
(Ethyl Carbamate)

                               Probably best to smoke tobacco in the garden............