Tobacco is a toxic substance that harms your body.

Tars and other toxic substances in tobacco can cause cancer of the lung and other organs, such as the stomach, pancreas, kidney and bladder. Tars also damage the lungs causing diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

There are over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke. One of them is the toxic chemical carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide hinders your lungs ability to get oxygen into the blood. And, once carbon monoxide is exhaled, it contributes to second-hand smoke exposure. Other toxic chemicals in smoke include:

• Butane: a chemical used for lighter fluid;
• Ammonia: a chemical used to clean toilets;
• Formaldehyde: a chemical used to preserve dead things;
• Methanol: a component of jet and rocket fuel;
• Arsenic: used for ant poison;
• Polonium 210: a highly radio active element;
• Cyanide: a deadly ingredient in rat poison;
• Acetone: a poisonous solvent and paint stripper.

Tobacco products are highly addictive. No amount of tobacco use is safe.

Tobacco smoke contains at least 4,000 chemicals including: ammonia, cyanide, arsenic, and formaldehyde.

There are at least 40 known carcinogens in cigarettes.

The overall death rates from cancer are twice as high among smokers as among nonsmokers. Heavy smokers are four times as likely to die from cancer than non-smokers.

Tobacco use is responsible for 87% of lung cancers.

Smoking is associated with 30 other cancers including: of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, ureter, and bladder.

Smoking is a major cause of heart disease and is associated with conditions ranging from colds and chronic bronchitis to gastric ulcers, emphysema, and cerebrovascular disease (blood circulation).