|
|
The Cigarette:
 | Both “light” and
“regular” cigarettes are equally toxic. |
| The filters in
cigarettes do not make the toxins in the smoke any less harmful. |
Toxic Chemicals:
| Nicotine is an
addictive substance because it affects the brain. |
| Besides nicotine,
there are 4000 additional chemicals in cigarettes. At least
60 of these
chemicals are known to cause cancer. |
Smokers:
| Over 400,000 people
die every year in the U.S. due to cigarette smoking. |
| Recent immigrants, laborers, and those
with less education tend to smoke more than other people.
These people are also the targets of the tobacco companies. |
| Children whose
family members smoke are more likely to become smokers. |
| Smoking is often the
“gateway drug”, the first step leading to use of street drugs. |
People Living With or
Working Around Smokers:
| These people are also
affected by cigarette smoke. |
| Cigarette smoke is
especially harmful to pregnant women, children, and infants. |
| Women who smoke have a 300% higher chance of getting
breast cancer than women who don't smoke. |
| People working in
restaurants or bars where smoking is allowed have a higher chance of
developing lung cancer. They may breathe in up to 1.5 – 2 packs worth of
cigarettes from second hand smoke. |
| Over 53,000 people
who do not smoke die of smoke related diseases such as lung cancer and
heart disease every year. |
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