Tobacco as harmful as cigarette
Thursday 20th August 2009 HCFI New Delhi: Tasking one pinch of smokeless tobacco delivers the same amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as smoking five cigarettes. This was stated by Dr KK Aggarwal President, Heart Care Foundation of India, BSNL Dil Ka Darbar, MTNL Perfect Health Mela and Director, IMA AKN Sinha Institute.
PAHs are common environmental contaminants that are formed as a result of incomplete burning of wood, coal, fatty meat or organic matter, according to American Chemical Society.
PAHs also form during the grilling of meats. Some are known carcinogens. Smokeless tobacco contains two dozen other carcinogens that cause oral and pancreatic cancers, scientists say.
People think that because it doesn't burn, smokeless tobacco is safer. A total of 28 carcinogens are identified in smokeless tobacco. Continued exposure to these over a period of time can lead to cancer.
Until recently, scientists wrongly believed that, because the tobacco was not burned when used, only trace amounts of PAH existed in snuff.
Even though smokeless tobacco use does not involve burning, tobacco gets contaminated with PAH during its manufacturing. |
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