In a world of information overload, especially with the proliferation of social media, the authenticity of information is often questionable. One such misconception is that nicotine is a carcinogen and the main cause of cancer. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nicotine is not the primary cause of cancer or for that matter lung disease. Tobacco-related cancer is caused by toxins released from the combustion of cigarettes.
Even UK’s National Health System (NHS) has stated that although nicotine is addictive, it is relatively harmless to health. However, it is the toxic chemicals contained in tobacco smoke that cause almost all the harm from smoking. Nicotine itself does not cause cancer, lung disease, heart disease or stroke and has been used safely for many years in medicines to help people stop smoking.
It is often concluded that nicotine is only found in tobacco and leads to cancer. But is it true? It is a natural ingredient found in several plants. Various vegetables such as eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, among others, also contain nicotine in trace amounts.
There are more than 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. Of these, at least 250 are known to be harmful to health, such as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and ammonia. Some are natural components of the tobacco plant itself, but most harmful substances are only formed on combustion of tobacco and not by nicotine itself.
Products containing nicotine are often used to reduce anxiety, stress, or depression. Nicotine from cigarettes is absorbed into the lungs through inhalation of smoke. When nicotine enters the body, it enters the circulatory system and reaches the brain within 20 seconds causing nerve stimulation, resulting in feelings of euphoria.
The burden of cancer and tobacco related diseases is immense. A recent report by WHO suggests that new cancer cases are likely to rise to at least thirty-five million in 2050, a 77% rise over the cases diagnosed in 2022. In India, an estimated 1.4 million cancer cases were recorded in the same year, while one in nine citizens could develop cancer in their lifetime.
Generally, lower doses of nicotine are used in safer alternatives, minimizing their exposure to carcinogens, and other harmful substances in cigarette smoke. In fact, it is important to consider that if nicotine were causing cancer, then why would experts and professionals promote Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as a cessation aid.
Nicotine alternatives eliminate combustion and consequently reduce the level of harmful compounds. They are a crucial factor in one’s journey to quit and should be the cornerstone for tobacco control policies to improve public health.
