Cigars contains Cancer causing Nitrosamines

Approximately 75% of the cigar smokers do not inheal the smoke like the cigarette smokers. This fact may excite the smokers to consider cigar smoking as an alternative to cigarette smoking. But Cigar tobacco smoke contains more tar when compared to cigarette smoke. They are larger in size and this results in exposure to cancer causing chemicals for longer time. Moreover, cigars cause lots of indoor air pollution. Research now shows that the greatest threat to the cigar smokers is from the cancer causing substance present in the cigar tobacco called the Nitrosamine. This article tries to gain further insight.

Types of Cigars in United States and their Tobacco contents: Generally the cigars come in different shapes and sizes with the tobacco content anywhere between 1 gram and 20 grams.

S.No. Cigar Type Tobacco Content
1. Large Cigars
5-20 grams
2. Cigarillas
3 grams
3. Little Cigars
1 gram

From a tobacco to the cigar

What are the chemicals Nitrosamines: The tobacco leaves are made to undergo a process called fermentation for 35-45 days. This process intends to remove the harmful nicotine, tar, ammonia, oils and sap from the tobacco leaves. In this process, the leaves are dried and piled over one another. The pressure of stacking, the heat and humidity sweat these leaves. This causes release of the impurities. But the substances which remain even after the fermentation process are the chemicals Nitrosamines. They are present in higher levels in cigar smoke than in cigarette smoke and can cause cancer.

Knowledge Gained From Research about Nitrosamines:

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