Cigarette

A cigarette is a small cylinder of thin paper filled with shredded tobacco leaf. It is lit at one end, and the smoker inhales smoke from the other. Most cigarettes have a filter attached at the mouth end.

Cigarettes form a major part of the global tobacco industry and are sold in packaged forms. Nicotine, a chemical present in tobacco, creates dependence (addiction), which is why quitting is difficult.

Structure

A standard cigarette consists of three components: shredded tobacco, rolling paper, and a filter. The filter is typically made of cellulose acetate fibers. Manufacturers also add flavoring agents and smoke modifiers, such as sugar or menthol.

Health

Cigarette smoke contains hundreds of chemicals, including tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogenic substances. Many health studies have linked cigarette smoking to lung cancer, heart and blood vessel diseases, and chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD. Secondhand smoke that affects others is also a health hazard.

Law and regulation

Many countries have passed laws restricting tobacco advertising, imposing high taxes, and banning smoking in public indoor spaces. Packaging typically carries health warnings and images. The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has formed the basis for many of these regulations.

Alternatives and cessation

People seeking to quit use nicotine replacement medications such as patches and gum, counseling, and other drugs. In recent years, electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products with no combustion have entered the market; the extent of their harm remains contested.