THESmoking is the most important preventable cause of death in our society and is closely related to the onset of various cancers, not just of the lung. But what are the main carcinogens contained in cigarettes and how do they act in the process of cancer formation?
How is a cigarette made?
The cigarette is a paper cylinder containing chopped and processed tobacco leaveswith a filter placed at one end that allows you to inhale the smoke produced by the combustion of the opposite end.
As with food, cigarettes are derived from a industrial production process in which they are used additives to improve product yield and meet consumer tastes.
What’s inside?
It is estimated that each cigarette contains at least 600 ingredients, than once burned, they give rise to more than 7,000 different molecules. About 80 of these substances are now recognized as carcinogens. Among these we remember the aromatic amines, benzene, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and two heavy metals, arsenic and cadmium.
Getty Images
How does smoking cause cancer?
The mechanisms by which the components of cigarettes increase the chances of developing cancer are different. Some substances directly damage DNA, causing mutations capable of inducing uncontrolled cell growth. Others, like thearsenic, interfere with the normal repair mechanisms of the genetic material, while still others, such as the chromeI am able to do adhere carcinogenic substances to DNA, thus favoring the onset of mutations.
Toxic substances contained in cigarettes can favor the development of tumors also indirectly. For example, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide damage the cilia of the cells that line the respiratory tract and thus reduce our body’s ability to excrete toxins, while cadmium inhibits enzymes that transform harmful substances into less toxic compounds.
What tumors are involved?
According to recent estimates, of of every three cancer deaths worldwide, one is attributable to smoking. Smoking is in fact responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer cases and is also involved in the onset of at least 15 other neoplasms affecting various organs and tissues including the mouth, nasal cavity and sinuses, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, liver, cervix, ovary, bladder, kidneys, urinary tract and bone marrow.
Can secondhand smoke also be carcinogenic?
Yes, passive smoking is also able to promote the onset of tumors. As with active smoking, the highest risk relates to lung cancer: people exposed to secondhand smoke have indeed one 20-30% higher probability than non-smokers of developing this neoplasm. In addition, passive smoking is associated with a greater risk of developing cancers of the larynx, pharynx, sinuses, brain, bladder, colorectal, stomach and breast, while in children the likelihood of getting lymphoma, leukemia, cancer increases. liver and brain.
To know more
If you want to know more about lung cancer, download the manual “Smoke. Questions and answers to understand and choose “ made by Umberto Veronesi Foundation.
To stay up to date on the latest health news visit the Online magazine of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation.
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED