How many different toxic compounds are in tobacco smoke?
There are more than 4,000 chemicals generally found in tobacco smoke. More than 50 of these are known to cause cancer. Health Canada requires manufacturers to test and report on 43 chemicals found in smoke, including the six now listed on packages. Most of the chemicals – including carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide – are formed when tobacco burns. Others, such as lead, tobacco-specific nitrosamines and nicotine, are found naturally in the tobacco and are simply released as the tobacco burns.
