Tobacco

Tobacco

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, with more than 41,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke. In Washington State, tobacco kills about 8,300 people every year. 

The only way to avoid the harmful effects of tobacco is to avoid using tobacco all together and avoid areas where you could be exposed to secondhand smoke. If you or someone you know currently uses tobacco, the best option is to quit in order to reduce the risk of developing a tobacco-related disease. 

What is in a Cigarette

There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. When burned, they create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous.

Here are a few of the chemicals in cigarette smoke and other places they are found:

• Acetone - found in nail polish remover
• Acetic Acid - an ingredient in hair dye
• Ammonia - a common household cleaner 
• Arsenic - used in rat poison
• Benzene - found in rubber cement
• Butane - used in lighter fluid
• Cadmium - active component in battery acid
• Carbon Monoxide - released in car exhaust fumes
• Formaldehyde - embalming fluid
• Hexamine - found in barbecue lighter fluid
• Lead - used in batteries
• Naphthalene - an ingredient in mothballs
• Methanol - a main component in rocket fuel (see note) Nicotine - used as insecticide
• Nicotine - used as insecticide
• Tar - material for paving roads
• Toluene - used to manufacture paint (ALA)

Quitting Tobacco

It's never to late to quit tobacco. If you or someone you know is thinking about quitting, use these tools and resources listed below.

• Quitting Resources PDF - English|Quitting Resources PDF - Spanish
• Thinking about quitting
• Preparing to quit
• Quitting
• Sticking with quitting

Washington State Quit Lines:

• English | 1-800-QUI-TNOW | 800-784-8669
• Spanish | 1-877-2NO-FUME | 877-266-3863
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 877-777-6534
• Getting Help to Quit Tobacco

Vaping

Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor from a device. The device is filled with vape liquid, it heats up, the liquid is vaporized into millions of tiny droplets, and then inhaled.

Commonly perceived as a healthier or safer option than traditional cigarettes, there are unique health risks associated with vaping devices and research is currently being performed to look at the potential long-term effects of vaping device use.

E-cigarette/vapor product use is now considered an epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As cigarette use declines, new tobacco products, and electronic cigarette/vapor products, are being introduced and marketed, and thus contributing to the overall youth nicotine use rate. More than four times as many youth (10^th-graders) report using vapor products than cigarettes.

Types of Vaping Devices:

• E-Cigarette: This first generation of vaping devices often has a similar appearance to that of a cigarette. They come in both disposable and rechargeable forms. They can emit a light that resembles the burning of tobacco when the user puffs from it. They also tend to be the least expensive of the vaping devices.
• Vape or vaporizer pens: The second generation of vaping devices resembles the shape of a pen and comes in a variety of sizes and colors. Like e-cigarettes, there are disposable and rechargeable devices and most are refillable.
• Mechanical Modified Nicotine Delivery Systems (MODs): MODs are larger in shape and size. MODs consist of many customizable parts that allow users to individualize the device. MODs are rechargeable or have replaceable batteries and typically hold more liquid for vaping. MODs are the most expensive type of device with some setups costing hundreds of dollars.

What is in the Liquid:

• The liquid, know as e-liquid, e-juice, nic- juice, smoke juice, smoke oil, or vape juice, comes in a variety of flavors (over 7,000) that can appeal to adults and youth alike. This liquid typically contains nicotine as well as many other chemicals that may be dangerous when atomized. But it's not flavored air.
• The liquid solution used in vaping devices is unregulated. There are no labeling requirements concerning any nicotine content and there are no packaging requirements to protect children from opening containers of the product. The liquid solution is often sold in bright and colorful packaging and is available in many flavors that appeal to children.

(Note) All liquid nicotine products should be stored out of reach of children. If you suspect a person has been exposed to liquid nicotine, call the Washington Poison Center at 800-222-1222 or seek medical help immediately.