The tar in a cigarette, which varies from about 15 mg for a regular cigarette to 7 mg in a low-tar cigarette, exposes the user to a high expectancy rate of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in the smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children and sudden infant death. Extent of Use In 1998, an estimated 60 million Americans, or 28 percent of all Americans aged 12 and older, were current smokers. The 1998 survey shows that current smokers are more likely to drink heavily and use illicit drugs than non-smokers.
White patches are cancer cells.
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