Biology Project Sample

Table of Contents Components of cigarette smoke 2 Effects of EACH component of Cigarette Smoke on the Human Body 4 Secondhand Smoke 11 The effects of smoking on pregnancy 14 Four ways the government sought to decrease the effect of smoking 17 Should smoking be banned and Why 18 References 20

Components of cigarette smoke
One well-known fact about cigarettes is that a single cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals. And of course, many of these chemicals are actually toxic and even cancer causing. Cigarette smoke is a toxic mixture of over 7000 chemicals, including 250 poisonous and 70 carcinogenic compounds.
Cigarette contains the following: * The products of cigarette smoke directly from smoking a cigarette of from inhaling another person’s cigarette smoke include three main components: 1 Nicotine 2 Tar 3 Carbon monoxide * Other toxic components include: (to name a few) 1 Benzene 2 Formaldehyde 3 Ammonia - a chemical found in cleaning fluids 4 Hydrogen cyanide 5 Cadmium 6 Acetone 7 Arsenic 8 Lead 9 Toluene 10 Turpentine 11 Butane 12 Propylene Glycol 13 Benzoapyrene

Figure 1: showing the MAIN ingredients in a cigarette
Figure 2: showing the major components of a cigarette
Figure 2: showing the major components of a cigarette

Effects of EACH component of Cigarette Smoke on the Human Body
Nicotine
* It is the addictive component of tobacco as it makes the cigarette highly addictive. It is absorbed into the blood and affects the brain within 10 seconds. It causes smokers to feel good because of the neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) that it releases and it causes adrenaline (which also feels good) and this reinforces the craving for another cigarette. * Less oxygen is delivered to heart cells as it reduces the air flow in and out of the lungs and a heart attack or failure can take place leading to death. * Paralysis of the cilia lining in the trachea which helps to remove dirt and bacteria so, the cilia can’t vibrate anymore and the air inhaled isn’t clean. Therefore, goblet cells release more mucus which makes the trachea narrower and it reduces the space for air to pass freely through the system. * Constriction or narrowing of the bronchioles and this cuts down the amount of air able to enter from the outside. The damage gets progressively worst as long as smoke continues to be inhaled. * Increases heart beat rate and blood pressure. * Coronary Heart Disease (Atherosclerosis) - Nicotine helps cholesterol deposition on walls of coronary arteries. This causes atheroma (degeneration of the walls of the arteries caused by accumulated fatty deposits and scar tissue, and leading to restriction of the circulation). * Increases the risk of osteoporosis- A medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D. * In pregnant women, direct nicotine toxicity has been suggested as a mechanism for spontaneous abortion. Although a smoking-induced reduction in maternal weight gain contributes to fetal growth retardation, the evidence points to oxygen starvation of the fetus and placenta as important factors. Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke can cross the placenta and bind to the haemoglobin in fetal blood. Smoking causes constriction of the umbilical arteries, impairing placental blood flow. Nicotine, which also crosses the placenta, can have a number of toxic effects on the fetus. The carcinogen 4-aminobiphenyl crosses the placenta in a mother who smokes and adducts with the hemoglobin in the fetus’ blood. * Women currently smoking enter nonsurgical menopause about 1 to 2 years earlier than nonsmokers. Heavy smokers experience an even earlier menopause than light smokers. This effect has important consequences for women’s health because the rates of osteoporosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases increase after menopause. One proposed mechanism for early menopause is that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoke are directly toxic to ovarian follicles
Smoker's Face * Smoking increases skin damage through the formation of free radicals in the body caused by exposure to tobacco smoke. Free radicals are very unstable and powerful molecules that go around wreaking havoc in the DNA of cells. The skin cells become erratic and damage ensues. This skin damage is caused by blood flow restriction through the capillaries which means a lack of oxygen and valuable nutrients to the skin. Collagen, which is vital to the suppleness and elasticity of the skin, is broken down by an enzyme that is increased through free radical damage. Our skin is protected through vitamins A and C, both of which are reduced and blocked from absorption through the interference of free radicals. One of the classic signs of smoker’s face is the deeply set wrinkles around the eyes and mouth that are caused by puckering up to suck on a cigarette. * Furthermore, the damage to the skin of women is far worse than to men who smoke. Women are more likely to have smoker's face than men. A study first identified the gray, pale and wrinkled skin consistent among people who smoked as something that is inherent in the habit. It was pointed out that there was in fact a connection between smoking and skin damage and that smoking adds between 10-20 years to your natural age.
Tar
* Tar itself contains many poisonous substances to the body. It is a thick, sticky substance, and when inhaled it sticks to the tiny hairs on the lungs, the cilia. These normally protect the lungs from dirt and infection, but when covered in tar they can't do their job. It sticks to the lungs, coats the walls of the whole respiration system and damages lung tissue. * Chronic Bronchitis Disease – tar makes goblet cells in the trachea and produces excess mucus and it falls into lungs. Bacteria in mucus breed and causes infections like bronchitis and the layer of excess mucus lining the walls of the alveoli increase the diffusion distance of gases making gas exchange slower. Also, the cilia become less and less effective although more mucus is being produced and scar tissue replaces the cilia and this blocks part of the passageways. * Emphysema – The excess mucus lining the alveoli irritates it, causing strong coughs which damage the alveoli. The alveoli lose its shape and surface area making gas exchange much slower and this cause short breathes and sounds while breathing. The lungs become less elastic as more scar tissue is made. They cannot expel air as easily, so more carbon dioxide than should, remains in the blood. As a result, people with this disease may have a bloated and slightly bluish appearance. * Lung Cancer – Usually starts in the lining or epithelium of the bronchioles and then spreads throughout the lungs. When tar reaches the lungs, it is absorbed by cells of the bronchi, bronchioles and the lungs. The tar causes excessive division and reproduction of these cells which develops into cancer and the cancer can be spread to other organs too. Causes “smoker’s cough” as any irritant present in the respiratory system may trigger cough; however, smoker's cough develops as a consequence of phlegm (the thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages) buildup in the trachea. Coughing also sets in as the body tries to remove mucus. * Asthma- A result of a spasm in the muscle in the walls of the bronchioles. An attack is brought on by an over-reaction to a particular environmental stimuli (like pollen or dust in the air), but smoke may also act as a trigger and so, a person finds great difficulty breathing and there’s a wheezing sound as air is breathed in and out.
Carbon Monoxide * Carbon monoxide is the poisonous chemical found in car exhaust fumes. It reduces the smoker’s ability to take strenuous exercise and causes breathlessness. * Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin instead of oxygen combining with it. Carboxyhaemoglobin is formed which is stable and so, less oxygen is transported to cells by the blood. Since there's less oxygen in the blood, it gets thicker and puts a strain on the heart to pump. * Carbon monoxide also increases risk of blood clots forming which might results in blocking the artery.
Benzene
* A solvent used in fuel and chemical manufacturing. It is known to cause cancer, based on evidence from studies in both people and laboratory animals. The link between benzene and cancer has largely focused on leukemia and cancers of other blood cells.
Formaldehyde
* A very poisonous liquid that is used to preserve dead bodies. * Responsible for some of the nose, throat and eye irritation smokers experience when breathing in cigarette smoke and it may be associated with nasal cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer in humans.
Ammonia
* A chemical found in cleaning fluids. * Used to boost the impact of nicotine in manufactured cigarettes.
Hydrogen cyanide * A poison used as a fumigant to kill ants and it is also used to manufacture plastics, dyes and pesticides. * While no one would willingly breathe hydrogen cyanide into their lungs, smokers do it multiple times with every cigarette they inhale and because hydrogen cyanide is present in secondhand smoke, nonsmokers are also at risk of breathing in this poison when they are exposed to cigarette smoke. * Smoking cigarettes is probably a major source of cyanide exposure for people who do not work in cyanide-related industries.
Cadmium
* An extremely poisonous and radioactive metal found in batteries. * Cadmium is the subject of concerns about several forms of cancer, including lung cancer, and kidney cancer
Acetone
* A corrosive liquid solvent found in nail polish remover and used as a superglue remover. * Exposure to moderate-to-high amounts of acetone can irritate the eyes and respiratory system, and make people feel dizzy.
Arsenic
* a deadly poison is used to make insecticides and it is also used to kill gophers and rats. * It kills organisms (including, people) by preventing the proper action of an enzyme called lipothiamide pyrophosphate. * Leads to death due to multi-system organ failure. Both the element arsenic and arsenic compounds are considered to be toxic and dangerous for the environment.
Lead
* A toxic, heavy metal that causes lead poisoning which affects nearly every system in the body and may occur without noticeable symptoms. * Low but on-going exposure over time can affect the developing nervous systems (children are most at risk) in subtle but persistent ways * Stunts growth reduces intelligence, damages hearing and behavioral issues and also your brain and can easily kill you.
Toluene
* is used as an octane booster in fuel, a solvent in paints, paint thinners and chemical reactions for rubber, printing, adhesives, lacquers, leather tanning, disinfectants and to produce phenol and TNT. * Used in the embalming of corpses. * It is believed to be a developmental toxicant and is also suspected of being hazardous to health in other ways including as a cardiovascular or blood toxicant; gastrointestinal or liver toxicant; immunotoxicant; kidney toxicant; neurotoxicant; reproductive toxicant; respiratory toxicant; and as a skin or toxicant.
Turpentine
* A very toxic fluid or gas that is commonly used as a paint thinner. * It can burn the skin and eyes, damage the lungs and respiratory system, damage the central nervous system if inhaled and cause kidney failure if ingested, among other things. It is also highly flammable.
Butane
* A hydrocarbon used as a fuel and is highly flammable as it is one of the key ingredients in gasoline. * Butane is harmful to the body because it can cause problems in your respiratory system and you can also get lighter fluid poisoning because butane is a liquid in lighter fluid.
Propylene Glycol * A sweet hygroscopic viscous liquid used as antifreeze and as a solvent in brake fluid. * The tobacco industry claims they add it to keep cheap “reconstituted tobacco” from drying out, but scientists say it aids in the delivery of nicotine (tobaccos active drug) to the brain.
Benzoapyrene
* a yellow crystalline carcinogenic hydrocarbon found in coal tar and cigarette smoke. It's one of the most potent cancer-causing chemicals in the world.
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The reality is that smoking is not an addiction that is kinder to one sex over the other. Women pay a much higher price than men when it comes to the net effects of smoking and the facts are borne up by myriad studies and bodies of medical research. For instance, women have a much harder time quitting than men do because nicotine is more addictive to women than men. Additionally, women smokers have two times the risk of heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer than their male counterparts. Three times the number of women who die of breast cancer is killed by lung cancer and that number sits at about 70,000 per year.

Figure 3: showing a ‘mock’ cigarette label

Secondhand Smoke
It is also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) or passive smoke. It is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco: side stream smoke (smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe or cigar) and mainstream smoke (smoke that is exhaled by a smoker). Even though we think of these as the same, they aren't. Both smokers and nonsmokers can incur adverse health effects from the smoke of burning cigarettes. Smokers inhale mostly mainstream (MS) smoke, which is drawn through the burning tobacco column and filter tip and exits through the mouthpiece of the cigarette. Nonsmokers inhale mostly side stream (SS) smoke, which is emitted into the surrounding air between puffs from the end of the smoldering cigarette.
Side stream smoke is the major source of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The side stream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) than the mainstream smoke. And, it contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, which make their way into the body’s cells more easily. Although SS and MS smoke have qualitatively similar chemical compositions, the respective quantities of individual smoke constituents can be quite different. Exposure to side stream smoke depends on the distance from the burning cigarette and conditions of ventilation, the higher concentrations of certain toxic and carcinogenic chemicals in side stream smoke result in measurable levels of these chemicals in nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. * At least sixty-nine (69) of the toxic chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke cause cancer.
These include the following: (a) (b) Arsenic (c) Benzene (d) Beryllium (a toxic metal) (e) 1,3–Butadiene (a hazardous gas) (f) Cadmium (g) Chromium (a metallic element) (h) Ethylene oxide (i) Nickel (a metallic element) (j) Polonium-210 (a radioactive chemical element) (k) Vinyl chloride

Other toxic chemicals in secondhand smoke are suspected to cause cancer, including: (i) (ii) Formaldehyde (iii) Benzoapyrene (iv) Toluene * * Six effects of secondhand smoke:
Secondhand smoke significantly increases a person’s risk for: 1 respiratory infections (like bronchitis and pneumonia) 2 asthma (secondhand smoke is a risk factor for the development of asthma and can trigger attacks in those who already have it) 3 coughing, sore throats, sniffling, and sneezing 4 cancer (nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20–30%) 5 heart disease (nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25–30%) 6 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke because their bodies are still growing and they breathe at a faster rate than adults. On average, children are exposed to more secondhand smoke than non-smoking adults.
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There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even low levels of secondhand smoke can be harmful. The only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to completely eliminate smoking in indoor spaces. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air and ventilating buildings cannot completely eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. Nicotine, cotinine, carbon monoxide and other smoke-related chemicals have been found in the body fluids of nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke. * Four ways, you as an individual, can decrease the effect of secondhand smoke on your system 1 Create a "no-smoking" policy in my home. Encourage others kindly, not to smoke in or near me or my living spaces. 2 Make sure that the public places where my family and I will be are smoke-free. This includes restaurants, child-care centers and amphitheaters. 3 Invest in a high-density air purifier to remove toxic smoke chemicals already in my living space and replace them regularly, as they tend to harbor odor and chemicals and I can tell my parents to think about re-painting the walls with a non-toxic paint. 4 I can educate any family member, friend, relative or neighbours of mine who smokes advice for them to quit the habit and reasons why they should.
Some information to give/educate them about is given in the table below:- Time since quitting | Beneficial health changes that take place | Within 20 minutes | Your heart rate and blood pressure drop. | 12 hours | The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal | 2-12 weeks | Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. | 1-9 months | Coughing and shortness of breath decrease. | 1 year | Your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker. | 5 years | Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting | 10 years | Your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases. | 15 years | The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s |

The effects of smoking on pregnancy * Smoking reduces the chances of In-vitro fertilization (IVF) succeeding:- * Both female and male smokers have lower fertility levels, while adults who were born to mothers who smoked have less chance of becoming a parent themselves. * It is thought that nicotine reduces a woman's fertility by affecting the production of hormones that are necessary for pregnancy. * Smoking also impedes the transportation of the egg through the Fallopian tubes to the womb. * There are numerous studies and collected research to support the fact that women who smoke are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have babies with cleft lips and palates:- * These babies have difficulty feeding; have frequent ear infections and loss of hearing, as well as speech and dental problems. * All of this happens by the seventh week of pregnancy. * Male smokers tend to have a sperm count that is 15 per cent lower than that of non-smokers:- * Although the primary cause of all kinds of birth defects is the mother's smoking, it is important to know that if the father is a smoker he is equally responsible for the birth defects. * The sperm of a man is affected by smoking which means harm can come to his baby long before he even meets his future partner. * Carbon monoxide and nicotine, when released into the body, interfere with the amount of oxygen that gets to the baby in the womb. * Cells that are oxygen deprived do not grow or multiply correctly and the result is birth defects. * Smoking reduces the amount of semen, harms the motility of sperm i.e. their ability to move around and it affects their shape. * Smoking exposes the foetus to toxins in tobacco smoke and it damages placental function:- * A baby in the womb gets everything from its mother. Nutrients and oxygen come via the placenta and umbilical cord. In later pregnancy, smoking mothers are at increased risk of the baby's placenta coming away from the womb before the baby is born (placental abruption). * This may cause the baby to be born prematurely, starve of oxygen, or even to die in the womb (stillborn). This would also cause spontaneous abortion. * Smoke replaces some of the oxygen in the pregnant mother’s blood with carbon monoxide:- * If a pregnant woman smokes, her blood and therefore her child's blood will contain less oxygen than normal. * This can cause the foetal heart rate to rise as baby struggles to get enough oxygen. * How smoking harms the unborn baby:-
Babies born to mothers who smoke: * are more likely to be born prematurely and with a low birth weight (below 2.5kg or 5lb 8oz) * have a birth weight on average 200g (7oz) less than those born to non-smokers. This effect increases proportionally - the more the mother smokes, the less the child weighs. * have organs that are smaller on average than babies born to non-smokers. * have poorer lung function * are twice as likely to die from cot death and there seems to be a direct link between cot death (SIDS) and parents smoking * are ill more frequently as babies born to women who smoked 15 cigarettes or more a day during pregnancy are taken into hospital twice as often during the first eight months of life * get painful diseases such as inflammation of the middle ear and asthmatic bronchitis more frequently in early childhood * are more likely to become smokers themselves in later years * has a lifelong effect on your baby's brain. Children of pregnant smokers are especially likely to have learning disorders, behavioral problems and relatively low IQs * in the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely to have a heart defect at birth * Secondhand smoke:- * Researchers have found that women who have been exposed to secondhand smoke face a 69% higher risk of heart disease and a 56% higher risk of stroke than those who haven't been exposed.

Four ways the government sought to decrease the effect of smoking
The control of tobacco smoking is a critical public health intervention. To this end, the Tobacco Control Act which was passed in December 2009 by the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago , was designed to protect individuals from exposure to tobacco smoke, particularly children and young people, babies (born and unborn), pregnant women and the vulnerable. It also seeked to prevent smoking by young people especially children, restricted promotional activities by tobacco manufacturers, enhanced public awareness of the hazards of tobacco use, ensured that consumers were provided with sufficient information to make more informed decisions on using tobacco products and prevented illicit trade.
The Tobacco Control Unit within the Ministry of Health enforced to a large extent, the following: 1 the designation of no smoking areas and prohibition against smoking therein (Section 12 of the Act); 2 the prohibition against the sale of tobacco products to and by minors (Section 13 of the Act); 3 the prohibition against import, manufacture or sale of toy or candy cigarettes (Section 18 of the Act); 4 the prohibition against tobacco advertising (Section 19 of the Act), the prohibition against incentive promotions and free supply of tobacco products (Section 20 of the Act) and the prohibition against public displays of tobacco products (Section 15 of the Act).

Should smoking be banned and why It has become trendy in the world today to denounce smoking. However, although I feel that smoking can be dangerous, I do not think it should be banned completely. Let me deal first with the positive side of smoking. Firstly, smoking certainly helps many people to relax. For some, it even improves concentration. Many people like to smoke before exams or when they are relaxing with friends. It doesn’t matter what you were taught in school: Smoking is cool, if it wasn’t, no one would do it.
A further point is that governments throughout the world make huge profits from levying taxes on cigarettes and full banning on smoking may cause an economic scare for the government. The sales of cigarettes are bound to suffer with such a ban and the government will lose revenue from excise duties. This provides funds which are used for building schools, hospitals and other public amenities. The tobacco industry also employs tens of thousands of people throughout the world, particularly in poorer countries like Zimbabwe or India. The tobacco industry will face a decline. Without cigarettes, millions of people working in these industries will be without employment.
I would also argue that people should have the right to choose whether they smoke or not. People should not smoke in a room where there are non-smokers but surely they should be free to smoke elsewhere. In order to protect their rights, governments of nations can build secluded areas especially meant for smoking to defend both the environment and the human rights. This is already in mode in many of the developed countries. Likewise, separate smoking sections should be introduced in workplaces which have also come into effect in some workplaces already. Indeed, smokers get to take a million breaks during the workday, wherein they can go outside and smoke and make phone calls or walk around. Above all, it is an excuse to relax for five minutes at a time, to sit back, to do nothing. On the other hand, non-smokers cannot say, “I’m going to go outside to text my friend for a little bit, I’ll be back.”
Additionally, people often include smoking to the list of pleasurable activities they enjoy when dining out or visiting a bar. Banning smoking at these establishments may make people less likely to visit which can hurt the business owners if smokers make up a large percentage of their customers. Moreover, banning smoking may infringe on a person's individual right to behave as he pleases. In addition, basing this prohibition on health reasons may be hypocritical when other substances that may pose similar or greater threats to health, such as alcohol and fattening foods, are allowed.
Having a ready excuse to walk away from a boring conversation at a party is easy by just saying, “Excuse me, I’m just going to go have a cigarette.” In particular, smoking cigarettes does not have any immediate side effects as you can smoke ten cigarettes at a party and still drive yourself home. An ingenious invention is the Electronic cigarette (e- cig) which is an electrical inhaler that vaporizes a propylene glycol- or glycerin- or polyethylene glycol-based liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking. It is often marketed as a smoking cessation aid or tobacco replacement. It supplies a nicotine vapor to smokers rather of thick smoke riddled with a huge number of chemical compounds, seventy of which are identified carcinogens, and thick tar that stains something it touches.
Although no combustion is involved, the nicotine is still derived from tobacco. This method of delivery has been thought to be potentially less harmful than smoking tobacco. The e-cig is obtainable in 6 nicotine levels: 24 mg, 18 mg, fourteen mg, 11 mg, six mg, and 0 mg and fourteen flavors which includes standard, traditional, and menthol. There is something for every type of smoker, including people who just enjoy heading through the motions of smoking cigarettes without having nicotine. The tip in the cigarette illuminates a soft red glow when using a drag; the nicotine vapor seems like smoke, but without the pungent chemical odor; there is certainly even the crackling tone of tobacco burning that happens while vaping that stimulates all of the identical senses skilled when smoking traditional cigarettes without having the foul odors, carbon monoxide, tar and ash. Researchers also found evidence that vaping reduces cravings among smokers, not just for nicotine but also for the need to hold something in their hands and put something in their mouths.
In the final analysis, the decision as to whether to smoke or not should be for each individual to make if ever in your life.