Here are some of the

Thousands of treats you get from each cigarette and how it affects the health

Cigarette smoke contains 4,000 chemical constituents and more than 40 of them are known to cause cancer in humans. Some experts say that it's usually not the nicotine that kills but these other chemicals…

Here are just a few ingredients you can find in cigarette smoke:

Acetone- Used as solvent such as nail polish remover.

Ammonia- This is added to cigarettes to add flavor and, some studies suggest, also to enhance the effect of the nicotine in a cigarette.

"The process of increasing the impact of nicotine by adding ammonia is called 'free-basing', which is similar to the chemical process used to heighten the effects of cocaine. Like cocaine, the nicotine exists in two forms --- acid and base. When ammonia is added, the nicotine converts from acid to base form. The base form can vaporize more easily from the smoke particles into the gas phase, enabling it to deposit directly on the lung tissue and immediately diffuse throughout the body" - Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology.

Benzene- Used as a solvent in fuel and in industry (dyes, synthetic rubbers etc.). It is known to cause cancer in humans and is particularly associated with leukemia.

A highly poisonous metal which is also used to make batteries.

"Cadmium is more dangerous by inhalation than by ingestion. Repeated or long-term exposure to cadmium, even at relatively low concentrations, may result in kidney damage and an increased risk of cancer of the lung and of the prostate" - US EPA.

Carbon Monoxide - This is an odorless, colorless poisonous gas that is lethal in large doses. In smaller doses, carbon monoxide causes increased heart rate and shortness of breath. This is because carbon monoxide attaches itself to the red blood cells and so doing hinders the blood's ability to carry oxygen thus "deactivating" these red blood cells for extended periods of time. In heavy smokers, up to 15% of the blood may be carrying carbon monoxide, at any given time, instead of oxygen.

Formaldehyde- Used to preserve dead bodies. In cigarette smoke, this chemical is a known carcinogen and causes respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.

Hydrogen Cyanide - "It is among the most toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Short-term exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting" - Health Canada.

Lead - "Lead is a highly toxic metal. Lead is capable of causing serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells. Children are particularly vulnerable because lead is more easily absorbed into growing bodies and the tissues of small children are sensitive to its effects. Lead exposure in children can result in delays in physical development, lower IQ levels, shortened attention spans and increased behavioral problems" - US EPA.

Mercury- "Adults exposed to metallic mercury vapors may develop shakiness, memory loss and kidney disease" - US Department of Health and Human Services.

Nicotine- It is this chemical that makes cigarettes as addictive as they are - many studies now suggest that nicotine is as addictive as cocaine and heroin.

Tar - When cigarette smoke is breathed in it condenses and deposits tar in the lungs. It is the tar that actually transports many of the other chemicals contained in cigarette smoke directly into the body. Tar is a dark, viscous substance that paralyses the cilia (small hairs which protect and clean the lungs) and can also stain teeth and fingernails.

If you smoke, every time you smoke a cigarette, these chemicals are absorbed into your blood and eight seconds later the nicotine it reaches your brain. This nicotine hit causes other things to happen to your body including increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and constriction of blood vessels and some of these chemicals are release in the smoke and shared with the people around.

For pregnant women who love their unborn baby but smokes, here is something important to keep on mind: U.S. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking by pregnant women may result in fetal injury, premature birth and low weight.

For pregnant women who love their unborn baby but smokes, here is something important to keep on mind: U.S. SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Smoking by pregnant women may result in fetal injury, premature birth and low weight.

For more information about Environmental Health, please visit: www.epa.gov