This article discusses the health risks associated with tar in cigarettes. It also covers the risks of “light” cigarettes, secondhand smoke, e-cigarettes, and thirdhand smoke.
What Is Tar in Cigarettes?
Cigarette tar is a term used to describe the toxic chemical particles left behind by burning tobacco. This substance forms a tacky brown or yellow residue. It is not the same as tar used on road surfaces. Tobacco is best known for three major dangers:
Carbon monoxide Nicotine Tar
Nicotine is the addictive chemical in cigarettes but it is the tar that is responsible for the biggest health risks, including many types of cancer.
Facts About Tar
Tar is present in any tobacco product that is burned. The level of tar increases as the item is burnt down. The last puffs on a cigarette can contain as much as twice the amount of tar as the first puffs.Tar in cigarette smoke paralyzes the cilia in the lungs and contributes to lung diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer.The average amount of tar in cigarettes was lowered from 38 milligrams (mg) and 2.7 mg of nicotine in 1954 to 12 mg of tar and 0.95 mg of nicotine. It remains at that level today.
Cigarette Tar Health Risks
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals. The majority are found in the tar produced by smoking cigarettes.
Impact on the Lungs
The tar in cigarette smoke builds up inside the lungs as it is inhaled. Over time, healthy pink lung tissue turns grey and eventually becomes black as more tar accumulates. The primary effect is that the tar paralyzes and can eventually kill cilia in the airways. Cilia are tiny, hair-like structures that line the trachea. They help trap pollutants, but when they’re damaged, the toxins in tar can travel deeper into the lungs. Some of these toxins are released when you exhale or are coughed back out, but some settle and stay in the lungs. Eventually, this can lead to lung disease and conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, and lung cancer.
Risk of Cancer
The tar does not just affect your lungs, though. From there, the toxins can be carried into the bloodstream and begin moving to other parts of your body. Because smoke is drawn directly through the mouth, the tar can contribute to oral cancer as well.
Effects on the Brain
Smoking has been shown to have negative effects on the brain, but it isn’t just smokers themselves who are affected. Research has also found that even limited exposure to the chemicals in secondhand smoke leads to changes in the brain. Some research also indicates that the chemicals in cigarettes may be linked to other cognitive effects. These include deficits in learning, memory, executive skills, processing speed, and general intelligence.
Other Health Conditions
Toxins from tar can affect every organ in your body. Beyond cancer, tar toxins can lead to yellow-brown staining on smokers’ fingers and teeth as well as the following health conditions:
Diabetes Gum disease Heart disease Infertility
What About Light Cigarettes?
Cigarette filters were first added in the 1950s when it was reported that the tar in tobacco was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. The idea was for the filter to trap harmful tar and nicotine residues, but the design never worked as well as hoped. Plenty of toxins still made it through and into the smoker’s lungs, exposing them to the risks of smoking-related disease. The concentration of tar in a cigarette was what determined its rating:
High-tar cigarettes (regular or full-flavor) contained 15 mg or more of tar. Medium-tar (light) cigarettes had 6 mg to 15 mg of tar.Low-tar (extra-light or ultra-light) cigarettes contained 1 mg to 6 mg of tar.
In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was passed to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of any tobacco products labeled as “light,” “low,” or “mild” on their labels. Cigarettes with a lower level of tar are referred to as “low-yield” cigarettes but are not less harmful. This was done so that smokers don’t mistakenly think that these cigarette products are healthier than regular cigarettes. The filters in low-yield cigarettes also have more air holes than typical filters. This does not seem to do much good because many smokers inadvertently cover them up when holding a cigarette. Quite often, smokers will inhale more deeply and smoke more low-yield cigarettes to obtain the same amount of nicotine found in regular cigarettes. Additionally, current smokers face a greater risk of lung cancer than people who have never smoked or smokers who have quit, regardless of the tar level in their cigarettes.
Do E-Cigarettes Contain Tar?
Because e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, they do not contain tar. However, the FDA still considers these to be “tobacco products.” While they do not contain tar, they carry risks of their own. They do contain nicotine as well as other substances that can cause cancer, lung disease, and heart disease. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of e-cigarettes, but these devices have been linked to cases of severe lung disease.
Cigarette Tar and Thirdhand Smoke
Over the years, there has been a lot of talk about secondhand smoke. Being in an environment with smokers has been proven to lead to a number of diseases and even cause strokes in some non-smokers. That is not the only harm, though. Cigarette tar and thirdhand smoke contain many of the same chemicals. It is now understood that the brown, tacky toxins left behind from smoke drawn through cigarette filters also settles on surfaces and stays put. In addition to the resins that make up cigarette tar, thirdhand smoke also includes airborne chemicals that remain in the air for a period of time after a cigarette has been smoked. Thirdhand smoke is dangerous for everyone who comes in contact with it. It is especially harmful to small children who may touch tainted surfaces and then put fingers into their mouths.
Quitting Resources
If you are ready to quit smoking, there are resources available that can help. It can be helpful to understand that quitting can take time and there may be setbacks along the way. You can improve your chances for success by learning more about the symptoms of withdrawal you might experience and taking steps to find relief. There are also smoking cessation medications and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) options that can improve your chances of quitting and help minimize withdrawal symptoms. Having a quit smoking plan and seeking social support can also help you on your journey. It may not be easy, but remember that you are not alone.
A Word From Verywell
Cigarette tar is poisonous and carcinogenic and is present wherever there is tobacco smoke. The best way to remove this danger from your life is to avoid indoor locations (including cars) where cigarettes are smoked. If you are a smoker yourself, consider stopping. When you’re ready, there are a variety of resources available to help you on the journey to quit smoking.
