How can parents recognize if their teenager is smoking cigarettes. What are the long-term health consequences of teen smoking. Why do adolescents start smoking in the first place. What are the signs that indicate a teenager may be using tobacco products.

The Prevalence and Dangers of Teen Smoking

Teen smoking remains a significant concern for parents and health professionals alike. Despite increased awareness of its dangers, many adolescents still experiment with cigarettes during their formative years. Understanding the scope of this issue is crucial for effective prevention and intervention.

Did you know that a staggering 90% of smokers begin using tobacco before reaching the age of 19? This statistic underscores the importance of early detection and intervention. Most smokers initiate the habit between 13 and 18 years old, a critical period when peer influence and the desire to appear mature can significantly impact decision-making.

Why Early Detection Matters

Identifying smoking behavior in teens early on is vital for several reasons:

• It allows parents to address the issue before it becomes a deeply ingrained habit
• Early intervention can prevent long-term health consequences
• It opens up opportunities for education about the risks of smoking
• Prompt action can help teens avoid nicotine addiction

By staying vigilant and recognizing the signs of smoking, parents can play a crucial role in guiding their children away from this potentially deadly habit.

Health Risks Associated with Teen Smoking

The health consequences of smoking are well-documented and severe, particularly when the habit begins in adolescence. Understanding these risks can provide powerful motivation for both prevention and cessation efforts.

Immediate and Long-term Health Effects

Smoking’s impact on health is both immediate and cumulative. Some of the most significant health risks include:

1. Impaired lung development: Smoking during the teen years can permanently reduce lung size and capacity
2. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease: Even young smokers face a higher chance of heart problems
3. Cancer risk: Smoking is linked to numerous types of cancer, including lung, mouth, and esophageal cancer
4. Nicotine addiction: The earlier smoking begins, the higher the risk of developing a lifelong addiction

How quickly can smoking lead to addiction? Research from the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that smoking as few as five cigarettes a day can trigger dopamine responses in the brain associated with addiction. This highlights the importance of preventing even occasional or experimental smoking in teens.

Understanding Why Teens Start Smoking

To effectively address teen smoking, it’s crucial to understand the motivations behind this behavior. Several factors contribute to a teenager’s decision to start smoking:

Social and Environmental Factors

• Peer pressure and the desire to fit in with certain social groups
• The perception of smoking as a “cool” or adult behavior
• Influence from family members or friends who smoke
• Easy access to cigarettes and designated smoking areas

Personal and Psychological Factors

• Stress relief and coping mechanism
• Rebellion against authority figures
• Desire for weight control
• Low self-esteem or poor academic performance

Are certain teens more at risk of starting to smoke? Research suggests that adolescents who struggle academically, use alcohol or drugs, or have family members who smoke are at higher risk of initiating tobacco use.

Recognizing the Signs of Teen Smoking

Detecting smoking behavior in teens can be challenging, as many adolescents go to great lengths to conceal their habits. However, there are several telltale signs that parents and caregivers can look out for:

Physical Signs

• Persistent smell of smoke on clothing, hair, or breath
• Frequent coughing or throat clearing
• Yellowing of teeth or fingers
• Increased instances of respiratory infections

Behavioral Signs

• Increased irritability or mood swings, particularly when unable to smoke
• Frequent breaks or time spent alone outside
• Decreased athletic performance
• Use of breath mints or strong-smelling products to mask smoke odor

How can parents distinguish between normal teen moodiness and nicotine withdrawal? Pay attention to patterns of behavior. If irritability consistently subsides after short absences (potentially when the teen has had an opportunity to smoke), it may indicate nicotine dependence.

The Rise of Vaping Among Teens

In recent years, vaping has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes among teenagers. This trend has led to a decrease in conventional cigarette use but has introduced new concerns and health risks.

Understanding Vaping

Vaping involves the use of electronic devices that heat a liquid (often containing nicotine) to produce an aerosol that users inhale. Many teens are drawn to vaping due to several factors:

• Perception of vaping as less harmful than smoking
• Appealing flavors and sleek device designs
• Less noticeable odor compared to traditional cigarettes
• Social media influence and marketing targeting youth

Health Risks of Vaping

Despite its popularity, vaping is not without risks. Some of the health concerns associated with vaping include:

• Exposure to harmful chemicals and ultrafine particles
• Potential for lung damage and respiratory issues
• High concentrations of nicotine leading to addiction
• Increased risk of transitioning to traditional cigarette use

Is vaping truly less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes? While vaping may eliminate some of the harmful byproducts of tobacco combustion, it still exposes users to nicotine and other potentially harmful substances. The long-term effects of vaping are still being studied, but early research suggests it is not a safe alternative to smoking.

Strategies for Preventing Teen Smoking

Prevention is key when it comes to teen smoking. Parents, educators, and community leaders can employ various strategies to discourage tobacco use among adolescents:

Education and Communication

• Open, honest discussions about the risks of smoking and vaping
• Providing accurate information about the addictive nature of nicotine
• Encouraging critical thinking about tobacco industry marketing tactics
• Sharing personal experiences or family history related to smoking

Setting a Positive Example

• Maintaining a smoke-free home and vehicle
• Quitting smoking if parents or family members are current smokers
• Promoting healthy coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety
• Encouraging participation in sports and activities incompatible with smoking

Community and Policy Measures

• Supporting smoke-free public spaces
• Advocating for stricter regulations on tobacco and vaping product sales to minors
• Promoting school-based anti-smoking programs
• Encouraging media literacy to counter pro-smoking messages in entertainment

What role can schools play in preventing teen smoking? Educational institutions can implement comprehensive tobacco prevention programs, enforce strict no-smoking policies on campus, and provide resources for students who want to quit or avoid starting.

Helping Teens Quit Smoking

If a teenager has already started smoking, it’s crucial to provide support and resources to help them quit. Quitting smoking can be challenging, especially for young people, but with the right approach, it is achievable.

Understanding the Quitting Process

Quitting smoking involves both physical and psychological challenges:

• Overcoming nicotine addiction and withdrawal symptoms
• Breaking habitual behaviors associated with smoking
• Developing new coping mechanisms for stress and social situations
• Building confidence and resilience to resist future temptations

Effective Quitting Strategies for Teens

1. Set a quit date and create a plan
2. Identify triggers and develop alternative behaviors
3. Seek support from family, friends, or support groups
4. Consider nicotine replacement therapy under medical supervision
5. Engage in physical activity and stress-reduction techniques
6. Celebrate milestones and reward progress

How can parents support their teen’s efforts to quit smoking? Offer unconditional support, help them identify their reasons for quitting, and work together to create a smoke-free environment. Encourage open communication and be patient throughout the process, as quitting often involves setbacks.

The Role of Technology in Smoking Prevention and Cessation

In the digital age, technology plays an increasingly important role in both preventing teen smoking and supporting cessation efforts. Innovative approaches leveraging smartphones, apps, and social media can provide valuable tools for education, support, and behavior change.

Digital Prevention Strategies

• Social media campaigns highlighting the risks of smoking and vaping
• Interactive online educational modules for schools and community organizations
• Virtual reality experiences demonstrating the long-term effects of tobacco use
• Gamification of anti-smoking messages to engage teens

Tech-Enabled Cessation Support

• Smartphone apps for tracking smoke-free days and managing cravings
• Text message-based support programs offering daily motivation and tips
• Online communities and forums for peer support
• Wearable devices monitoring health improvements as users quit smoking

Can technology really make a difference in teen smoking rates? While not a silver bullet, digital interventions have shown promise in reaching and engaging young people. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that smartphone apps combined with text messaging support significantly increased quit rates among young adult smokers.

The Importance of Ongoing Research and Policy Development

As the landscape of teen tobacco use continues to evolve, particularly with the rise of vaping, ongoing research and policy development are crucial for effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Current Research Priorities

• Long-term health effects of e-cigarettes and vaping products
• Effectiveness of various prevention and cessation programs for teens
• Impact of flavored tobacco products on youth initiation
• Neurobiological effects of nicotine on the developing adolescent brain

Policy Considerations

• Regulation of e-cigarette marketing and sales to minors
• Taxation strategies to discourage youth tobacco use
• Implementation of comprehensive smoke-free laws
• Integration of tobacco prevention education in school curricula

How can policymakers balance public health concerns with individual freedoms? This complex issue requires careful consideration of scientific evidence, ethical implications, and societal values. Effective policies often involve a multifaceted approach combining education, regulation, and support for those seeking to quit.

As we continue to grapple with the challenge of teen smoking and vaping, it’s clear that a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach is necessary. By combining vigilant parenting, effective education, innovative technology, and evidence-based policies, we can work towards a future where fewer teens fall into the trap of nicotine addiction. The health and well-being of our youth depend on our collective efforts to address this persistent public health issue.

Signs Your Teenager is Smoking Cigarettes

Table of Contents

How To Know if a Teen is Smoking

Learn the signs of your teenager smoking cigarettes so you can guide them away from this dangerous habit early on.

Did you know that 90% of smokers begin using tobacco before the age of 19? It is a fact that most smokers start smoking cigarettes between the ages of 13-18. For this reason, it is good for parents to be on the lookout for signs their teen has started smoking. By staying on top of this, parents can guide their child away from acquiring a deadly habit.

Negative Health Effects of Smoking Cigarettes

There is good reason for parents to be concerned about their teen smoking cigarettes. Ample research has shown for decades just how risky smoking is to our health. The CDC reports that smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., Their data show that 480,000 deaths each year are related to smoking.

The adverse effects of smoking are cumulative. The health risks are well known with data that confirms how smoking can harm every organ in the body. Over an extended time, the damage compounds and can cause these long-term effects:

• Harms lung development. There is evidence that shows that lung size and capacity are reduced in teens that smoke. Later in life, they are at risk of developing lung conditions, such as COPD, asthma, or emphysema.
• Heightened risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Smoking puts people at a higher risk of acquiring heart disease or having a stroke. The risk for cancer is very high. This includes cancer of the lung, mouth, tongue, and esophagus, in addition to other types of cancer.
• Risks nicotine addiction. The earlier someone starts smoking, the greater their risk of becoming addicted to nicotine. Nicotine causes a sense of euphoria and relaxation. These effects are short-lived, which leads to compulsive (chain) smoking.

There are some telling data about the risk of becoming addicted to smoking. A study from UCSF showed that even just five cigarettes a day could cause a dopamine response in the brain. The study groups were shown images of cigarettes and images of pens, followed by an MRI.

The scans showed the smokers’ brains light up along neural pathways related to dopamine-releasing regions when viewing the cigarettes. In the nonsmoker group, this did not occur. This suggests that even a few cigarettes a day can start the addiction cycle in the brain.

Why Do Teens Smoke Cigarettes?

We can all recall how important it is to look “cool” during the teen years. The way that smoking is portrayed, as a cool adult behavior, can influence a teen to begin smoking. Also, peer pressure plays an outsize role in the choice to partake in smoking. Some teens may even smoke in hopes of controlling their weight.

Certain factors can increase the risk of teen smoking. These include:

• They have parents, friends, or siblings who smoke.
• They have access to cigarettes, as well as smoking areas offered at school and work.
• They are not doing well in school, and are not engaged in school activities.
• They use drugs or alcohol.

Cigarettes are not the only way that nicotine is delivered. Vaping has increased exponentially in recent years, causing teen cigarette use to drop. Also, smokeless tobacco and cigars are other means teens use to achieve the desired effects from nicotine.

Signs a Teenager is Smoking Cigarettes

What are the telltale signs parents can look out for in their teens? Aside from the obvious, like finding cigarettes in their room, backpack, or car, consider these signs:

• They seem edgy. When someone becomes hooked on nicotine they will show signs of withdrawal. The teen may seem irritable, agitated, or angry, but after a short absence (when they smoke a cigarette) they’re calm.
• They smell of smoke. The teen may reek of smoke. It may be clinging to their clothes, their hair, or their breath.
• They cough often. Smoking can cause the throat to become dry and irritated. This can cause a chronic cough.
• Their teeth become yellowed. Cigarettes can quickly cause staining of the teeth. The teen’s teeth may begin to take on a yellow tinge with ongoing smoking.

Is Vaping Nicotine Less Risky?

The practice of vaping is defined as using a battery operated electronic device to inhale vapors from a liquid substance. The substance can be a liquid form of nicotine or other substances that can be aerosolized into a mist and inhaled. Some choose to vape over smoking cigarettes because it is odorless, and have none of the tobacco byproducts that harm the lungs.

It turns out that vaping liquid nicotine can still harm the lungs. Harmful chemicals have been detected in vaping products. These have been shown to cause permanent lung damage.

The concentrated levels of nicotine in the liquid products are risky as this can cause blood pressure to spike. Also, vaping nicotine can open the door to vaping THC products, with all the risks that go with that.

What to Do if Your Teen is Addicted to Nicotine

If a parent becomes aware that their teen is addicted to nicotine, there is help available. There are teen-focused rehab programs that can help the teen overcome the addiction. Programs are offered in outpatient settings where the teen will engage in a series of classes, group therapy sessions, and one-on-one talk therapy.

Sometimes the teen will have added issues, such as a substance use disorder or a co-occurring mental health disorder. If so, he or she may benefit from a higher level of care. A residential program for teens will provide a broader scope of therapeutic techniques and activities. These programs will also create a custom treatment plan, and offer academic support as well.

Are there signs that your teenager is smoking cigarettes? If so, do not ignore the problem. Steer your teen away from this dangerous habit with the help of a mental health expert.

BNI Treatment Centers Provide Residential Mental Health Treatment for Teens

BNI Treatment Centers is a residential mental health and dual diagnosis treatment program for teens. BNI is a doctor-owned treatment program and is tailored to the specific needs of teens. If your teen has become addicted to nicotine products, give BNI a call today at (888) 522-1504.

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Our mental health treatment center for teens offers residential treatment (RTC) partial-hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program and therapy.  BNI is dedicated to empowering teens who are struggling in various facets of their lives due to their specific conditions or issues. The treatment team develops individualize treatment plans to overcome these challenges to get their lives back on a positive trajectory.

The compassionate clinical team at BNI recognizes the unique struggles associated with the teen years that may culminate in social problems, high-risk behaviors, mood disorders such as anxiety or depression, or legal problems.  The BNI clinical treatment team works with the teens using the treatment modality that is best suited to treat their unique condition or issues.

The residential and outpatient therapy programs at our mental health treatment center for teens encompasses all treatment elements, including individual and group therapy, family therapy, nutrition, and experiential therapies.  BNI utilizes evidence-based approaches, those treatment modalities that have been scientifically tested and proven to be effective, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based therapy (MBCT), psychodynamic therapy, and solution focused brief therapy (SFBT).

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Several ways to identify a smoker

Life hacks

How to identify a smoker?

Photo

Getty

How to identify a smoker: the characteristics of smokers

And although smokers believe that they cleverly manage to hide their bad habit, this is far from the case. After all, they all have a number of characteristic features that reveal their little secret.

· Teenagers consider themselves adults when they start smoking. And indeed, over time, they will begin to look much older. Nicotine negatively affects the skin, because instead of oxygen, a portion of smoke enters the body. Therefore, the epidermis acquires an undesirable yellow tint, multiple wrinkles appear on the face, and the cheeks become sunken.

Most smokers cough. Such a cough is similar to bronchial, but it is not accompanied by other symptoms of the disease. Usually, attacks begin in the morning, and gray sputum is released from the oral mucosa. A cough may not go away over time, but quickly disappears after a person stops smoking.

· If you want to know how to identify a person who smokes, then attention should be paid to his smile. With prolonged smoking, the teeth become covered with plaque, and the gums become inflamed. In addition, bad breath can come from the mouth, which is hidden by chewing gum.

Middle and index fingers become yellowish due to exposure to nicotine smoke.

· A person cannot sit still because he wants to smoke. He can fiddle with small objects in his hands to distract himself.

How can you recognize a smoker?

If there are suspicions that the husband smokes, then most likely it is so. But it needs to be checked anyway. To do this, do the following:

1. Look at his face. If recently the skin has noticeably lost its elasticity, changed color, then the person smokes.

2. You need to look at the hands of the “suspect”. If a yellowish coating appears on the nails and fingers, and the skin becomes rough and unpleasant, then he has a bad habit.

3. It is advisable to examine all the husband’s clothes. If he started smoking, then there may be scorch marks and burnt places on things.

4. Smell well. After all, even if the smoker tries to hide the smell of cigarettes, he will still remain. His hair, clothes, hands can smell unpleasant. Feels bad breath.

How can you tell if a child smokes?

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Getty

Does the child smoke?

For any mother, the question of how to determine whether a child smokes is an urgent one. After all, modern children join this bad habit in order to assert themselves, to feel older. And many people start smoking at the age of 11-12. Therefore, it is important to prevent the child from becoming a heavy smoker in time.

• Some women tell their child to “breathe” and, not smelling tobacco, calm down. But children are not so stupid, so they know how to disguise themselves well. They chew gum, coffee beans, or bay leaves.
• Therefore, you need to ask the child to breathe into an empty jar. In this case, a slight smell of tobacco smoke may be felt.
• Often the smell remains on the hands. Even if you rub them with lemon zest, the cigarette flavor will remain.
• You just need a good sniff.
• The child’s belongings should also be examined. Perhaps a few grams of tobacco will remain at the bottom of the backpack or pockets.

If you cannot determine whether your son smokes on your own, then you need to go to the dentist. The doctor will quickly tell if he has a tobacco addiction. Sometimes children say that they themselves did not smoke, but simply were next to smokers. This really happens. But if the smell occurs regularly, then it is worth checking whether the son is telling the truth. As a rule, the aroma of cigarettes lasts about 1.5 hours on the hair, and 1 hour in the mouth.

Is it possible to make a child stop smoking

Children often smoke to appear cooler and older. In this case, you need to explain to the child that this is not an option. It is better to find a job to become an adult. So he will understand how hard money gets, so he will not spend it on all sorts of nonsense.

But girls very often smoke in company.

• Therefore, if your daughter has dubious girlfriends, she should be forbidden to communicate with them.
• You can give her some kind of ultimatum or find a compromise.
• A girl must understand that in the future she needs to become a mother, and because of smoking, various diseases can appear that lead to infertility.

Thus, it is easy to determine whether a person smokes or not. But if there is a goal – to help him get rid of such a habit, then you need to understand that this is not easy to do. After all, he should have not only awareness of the harm from cigarettes, but also willpower.

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Biochemistry of a smoker

— “Mom, I didn’t smoke, I just stood next to the guys!” – “Yeah, did the guys express the LRRN3 gene for you too?”

According to the World Health Organization, smoking is still one of the main threats to human health, and nicotine addiction is considered very severe. On the packs of cigarettes, frightening illustrations of the possible consequences of smoking “scream” about the danger. However, what actually happens at the molecular level in the body after inhaling cigarette smoke? About what is contained in cigarettes and tobacco smoke in addition to nicotine, as well as ways to calculate a smoker, tells N + 1 .

This article N + 1 continues the “When the smoke clears” project. It is dedicated to smokers, nicotine, ethical, biochemical and anthropological aspects of smoking practices, as well as the fundamental science that is associated with this phenomenon – toxicology, open data issues and much more. The project was prepared with the support of Philip Morris International in Russia. The opinion of the authors of the articles may not coincide with the position of the company.

Anagram game – nicotine, cotinine…

During smoking, smoke particles deliver nicotine to the lungs, where it is quickly absorbed, that is, absorbed into the bloodstream, and enters the pulmonary circulation. Next, nicotine enters the systemic circulation and so ends up in the brain, where it binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which usually bind the mediator acetylcholine. Stimulation of these receptors results in the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Dopamine is an integral part of our brain’s “reward system” and is released in large quantities during pleasurable events – even when eating delicious food. As a result, a person again and again feels the desire to repeat the action that in the past led to the release of dopamine. And thus, the binding of nicotine to the receptors of dopaminergic neurons (releasing dopamine) is an important step in the development of smoking addiction, described in more detail earlier in another article within the framework of the When the Smoke Clears project.

Most of the nicotine ingested by a smoker is metabolized in the liver to cotinine, which is structurally very similar to nicotine. Despite its similarities to nicotine, cotinine has a number of features that allow it to be used as a biomarker for the effects of smoking, a substance whose concentration in human biomaterial can indicate whether a person smokes or not. An important characteristic of a biomarker is its half-life – the time during which the substance loses approximately half of its pharmacological action. Nicotine has a relatively short half-life (about 10-11 hours), while cotinine has a longer half-life (about 17-20 hours) and can be detected for several days after nicotine intake.

Levels of nicotine and its metabolite, cotinine, can be measured in blood, urine, saliva, and hair and nails. Urinalysis is one of the most convenient methods due to the fact that it is a non-invasive test, but measurements of nicotine and cotinine in hair and saliva can provide a more accurate identification of a smoker (including a passive one). Despite their relative accuracy, nicotine and cotinine tests are still based on only one component of cigarettes, and their results can vary greatly depending on the individual. In addition, such biomarkers do not provide insight into biochemical changes within the body in response to cigarette smoke.

11 friends of nicotine

An analysis of the transcriptome, a set of mRNA (ribonucleic acid) molecules formed as a result of gene transcription, can help determine the status of a smoker more accurately. It is important that such markers be highly specific and sensitive regardless of individual characteristics of the person, differences between laboratories in which studies are carried out, and methods for extracting nucleic acids.

Philip Morris International researchers identified 11 markers based on gene expression levels using big data analysis: LRRN3, SASh2, PALLD, RGL1, TNFRSF17, CDKN1C, IGJ, RRM2, ID3, SERPING1, FUCA1. It turned out that with the help of them it is possible not only to determine with high accuracy whether a person smokes, but even to distinguish a person who has never smoked from a former smoker.

Prior to research involving volunteers, most of the testing is carried out on laboratory animals, as human testing is associated with more stringent regulation of the ethical and legal aspects of research. In addition, laboratory model organisms are distinguished by relatively fast life cycles and the development of pathologies, which makes them more convenient to work with.

The study was carried out on laboratory mice, some of which were exposed to cigarette smoke for seven months, some imitated smoking cessation (after two months of exposure to cigarette smoke, the mice again breathed filtered air), and the rest of the mice were healthy – they were shielded from tobacco smoke. It turned out that six of the 11 genes are universal for both humans and mice, and with their help it was possible to form a fairly accurate profile of the expression of the smoker’s genes.

Toxic Companions

Genetic expression testing of a smoker is not yet a ubiquitous test, but research in this area is underway, and perhaps in a relatively short time such a test will be available to everyone. But the studies related to the study of the effect of smoking on the body are not limited to assessing the level of nicotine and cotinine – some other components of cigarette smoke are also measured along with the study of a number of biochemical parameters of the body.

First of all, along with tobacco smoke, the smoker inhales carbon monoxide. For humans, carbon monoxide is toxic – because of it, people most often get serious poisoning or even die during fires. Normally, hemoglobin binds to oxygen and carbon dioxide and, carrying them in the blood throughout the body, thus ensures the process of respiration. In the presence of high concentrations of carbon monoxide, a complex between hemoglobin and oxygen (oxyhemoglobin) cannot form, since the bond between carbon monoxide and hemoglobin is irreversible, and their complex, carboxyhemoglobin, is much stronger. As a result, oxygen transport and cellular respiration are disrupted. Smokers have elevated levels of carboxyhemoglobin. Already at a ten percent level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, a person may experience severe headaches and nausea.

Nicotine is the main alkaloid in tobacco, but there are several other alkaloids in addition to it. The most common of these are nornicotine, anatabine and anabasine. It is believed that most of these alkaloids are formed either during the activity of bacteria or during the processing of tobacco. These compounds are responsible for the formation of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines, chemically stable compounds with carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. The most common N-nitrosamines in tobacco are 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N’-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N’-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), N’-nitrosoanabasine ( NAB), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and some others. Nitrosamines can be found in some cosmetics and even foods, but their content in cigarettes and tobacco smoke is much higher. As carcinogens, nitrosamines in the human body can contribute to the development of cancer.

In addition to N-nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic compounds consisting of two or more aromatic rings of carbon atoms, also have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. PAHs are formed from the incomplete combustion of many naturally occurring organic substances, such as oil, wood or tobacco, and are found throughout the environment. Several hundred different PAHs are found in tobacco smoke. These compounds in the air are, as a rule, part of complex mixtures. With this in mind, benzo[a]pyrene is most often used as a single indicator to assess the degree of air or body pollution with PAHs. This PAH is the most well studied and is one of the most powerful carcinogens among the other compounds of its series.

The negative effects of smoking are often considered not only in the context of the potential threat of developing cancer, but also in the case of the development of cardiovascular diseases. Often this is due to a violation of lipid metabolism in the body. The development of atherosclerosis can be greatly enhanced by abnormal lipid and lipoprotein profiles in blood plasma. Cholesterol is involved in many processes – it is both a precursor for the synthesis of certain hormones, and a component of cell membranes, and bile acids are formed from it, due to which the breakdown and absorption of fats in the intestine is carried out. However, with an excess of cholesterol in the blood, it can be deposited in the walls of the arteries, which leads to the formation of plaques that prevent normal blood flow. Normally, this does not happen due to lipoproteins. By itself, cholesterol is insoluble in water, so for transport through the body it binds to special proteins – apolipoproteins.

Such a complex between cholesterol and apolipoprotein is lipoprotein. Depending on the proportions of the components included in the complex, several types of lipoproteins are distinguished – high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). It is thanks to HDL that the processing and removal of excess fats from the body is ensured. At low concentrations of HDL, excess cholesterol does not have time to be excreted from the body in time and can accumulate in the form of plaques, which we mentioned earlier. LDL, on the contrary, are the main carriers of cholesterol in the body and their high concentrations can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

Studies aimed at studying the effect of smoking on the development of cardiovascular diseases are often carried out on ApoE -/- lines of mice. These mice are unable to express the ApoE gene, which produces apolipoprotein E, a glycoprotein essential for lipid transport and metabolism. ApoE -/- mice have congenital hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol) and, as a result, are particularly prone to the development of atherosclerosis.

Prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke in ApoE -/- mice resulted in an increase in most blood lipids and the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Also, exposure to cigarette smoke elicited an inflammatory response in mouse lung cells characterized by higher expression levels of alveolar macrophage activation markers CD54 (ICAM1), CD86, and CD11b. With the cessation of exposure to cigarette smoke, the inflammatory response was attenuated, and the progression of atherosclerosis was reduced.

In addition to a wide range of different organic compounds, many heavy metals are also present in tobacco smoke. In cigarettes, the combustion temperature of tobacco can reach values ​​of the order of 900 degrees Celsius. At such high temperatures, many metals and their compounds in the form of an aerosol, together with tobacco smoke, can enter the body. Cations of metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium are able to covalently bind to the thiol group of cysteine, an amino acid that is part of the active centers of many enzymes. Such a connection with the enzyme is likely to interfere with the normal implementation of its biological functions, which, as a rule, leads to serious metabolic disorders.

Pro alternative

It is important to note that the content of the above substances is highly dependent on the nature of the smoke. For example, in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (eventually postponed due to the coronavirus), a study was conducted on the differences between conventional cigarette smoke and electric tobacco heating system (ETS) aerosol. The content of the main N-nitrosamines characteristic of tobacco, NNN, NAT, NAB, and NNK, in the ESSNT aerosol was analyzed. It turned out that both in the tobacco section of the stick used in ESSNT and in the aerosol of nitrosamines, there are significantly less nitrosamines than in conventional cigarettes. The HHST aerosol contained only one-fifth of the nitrosamines compared to the smoke of classic cigarettes.

In the previous section, we mentioned that the combustion temperature of tobacco in an ordinary cigarette can reach 900 degrees Celsius. In ESNT, the heating mechanism provides for temperatures no higher than 350 degrees Celsius. It has been shown that due to this, the content of carbon monoxide in the composition of the aerosol from ESLT was reduced by 100 times compared with the smoke from a conventional cigarette.

Numerous studies, including those conducted by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laboratories, confirm the reduction of HHP aerosol concentrations of many harmful and potentially harmful smoke constituents in addition to carbon monoxide, such as acrolein, formaldehyde, benzopyrene, and more. dozens of substances. The average decrease in concentrations for this list of substances was more than 90 percent compared to the smoke from a regular cigarette.

Although there are significantly fewer compounds that are toxic to humans in HHST aerosol, tobacco heating systems are not harmless and do not eliminate risks.

Participants in randomized trials around the world report that they do not feel much difference between the use of ESS and regular cigarettes in terms of enjoyment of the process and its “rituality”. This is explained by the fact that in both cases, comparable amounts of nicotine, as a rule, enter the human body. And its pharmacokinetic profile (that is, peak concentration and the rate at which it is reached) is comparable to that obtained from smoking a traditional cigarette.

However, it is also important that in addition to subjective sensations, a number of biochemical parameters in smokers improved significantly when switching to the use of a tobacco heating system. In the course of randomized trials, indicators such as the level of leukocytes in the blood (indicator of inflammatory processes), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), levels of carboxyhemoglobin, HDL and carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, and the degree of oxidative stress were evaluated.

Statistically significant reductions in blood carboxyhemoglobin and leukocyte levels, an increase in HDL levels, a decrease in all tobacco N-nitrosamines, a decrease in oxidative stress, and higher FEV1 values ​​were observed when switching from cigarettes to ESLT compared with regular cigarette smokers.

Cigarette smoke accelerates the adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium, the cells that line the inner surface of blood vessels. The adhesion and transmigration of leukocytes across the vascular endothelium is an important step in the development of several cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis mentioned earlier. The aerosol of ESLT does not cause such strong changes in the adhesive properties of the endothelium compared to cigarette smoke.