1. Cigarettes are one of the most commonly traded commodities on the planet. During the year the number reached nearly a trillion, in terms of money is about $ 400 billion. Production of cigarettes is one of the biggest industries in the world.
2. According to research conducted by Harvard University the nicotine content in some of famous brands increases from year to year. In the period from 1997 to 2005 the amount of nicotine increased by 11 percent.
3. In 1970, President Nixon signed a law providing for placing on the pack warnings about harm of smoking for health and banned cigarette advertising on television.
4. Today, U.S. producers supply more cigarettes to other countries of the world than importing for themselves.
5. American brands, such as Kent, Marlboro, Kool and Camel own about 70% of the global cigarette market.
6. Each cigarette contains hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, ammonia, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and 43 other harmful carcinogens.
7. In the early 1950’s in Kent cigarettes manufacturers used crocidolite asbestos, a well-known active carcinogen, as part of the filter.
8. Urea, the main chemical compound in the urine, is used to add “flavor” to cigarettes.
9. In 1925, Hungarian inventor Boris Aivaz patented the process of creating the cigarette filter from crepe paper.
10. Now in most countries it’s allowed to purchase cigarettes only from 18 years, earlier it was 16 years old, while in Japan this limit is 20 years and not younger.
11. Contrary to popular prejudice, smoking at any age is not prohibited by law. Parents have the right to allow smoking to underage teenagers, those in turn are free to smoke without fear of the law. However, cigarette’s sale is highly regulated by legislation!
12. In many countries smoking bans primarily relate to public spaces. As a result, amount of people who visit pubs, bars and restaurants significantly reduces.
13. Scientists say that the average smoker loses 14 years of life because of his bad habit. However, this does not mean that a smoker will die young, it is also possible for him to live “normal” life.
14. In America, the percentage of smokers in each state is different. So to the states with the largest percentage are Kentucky (28.7%), Indiana (27.3%) and Tennessee (26.8%), while the lowest percentage in Utah (11.5%).
15. Cigarettes contain more than 4000 components that form after burning about 200 constituent chemical elements, many of which are harmful to the lungs.
16. “Light” cigarettes are produced with air holes around the filter, for better weathering of smoke. Some smokers learned to cover the holes with fingers or lips to get a greater effect.
17. The immune system of smokers is overloaded and running every day harder than non-smokers one. As a result, the blood of smokers contains fewer antioxidants. At the same time the immune system of smokers may react faster to virus attacks because of its more active nature.
18. Smokers often smoke after meals, they usually explain it: “food is digested more easily”. In fact, the body by smoking throws all its forces to protect the blood cells and brain from toxins, forgetting any digestion.
19. Some people, mostly men, can be excited by the type of smoker, often women. This effect is called “the cigarette fetish”. However, cigarettes, particularly menthol, causing blood flow to the genitals.
20. According to the World Health Organization, about 25% of cigarettes sold in the world have been smuggled.
21. The majority of smokers acquire the habit in their teen age, long before the legal age and legally buy cigarettes. They want to look and feel grown up in that way. Other “older elements” are aftershave lotion, alcohol, drugs and sex. Such a mixture is often the main cause of teenage pregnancy.