The radioactive substance found in cigarettes is polonium-210, a radioactive material that “emits hazardous particles called alpha particles”. When smokers inhale, the particles work with the other carcinogens found in cigarettes to pull double duty in damaging the lungs (and creating cancer).
ABC News reports that researchers at UCLA recently discovered that tobacco companies knew of radiation in cigarettes as far back as 1959. In 1960, the tobacco companies studied polonium, figured how much radiation a normal smoker would inhale over 20 years, knew it would cause cancer but nefariously hid their calculations so no one would find out.
Later on, the tobacco companies even ignored new procedures like “acid washing” that would have removed 99 per cent of the polonium-210 from cigarettes. Their reason for not using it? The process would have reduced the “instant nicotine rush” smokers crave. If healthier means less addictive, tobacco companies will never let it happen.
So we’re stuck with radioactive cigarettes. Polonium-210 is still in tobacco products today. Thanks.
[ABC News via Consumerist]
Image: Stanislav Popov/Shutterstock
Brave
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 10:14 AMWhaaaaaat? This is terrible news! Who would’ve thought smoking is bad for you.
Leanther
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 12:48 PMCan we just hurry up and declare the things an illegal product already.
No one except the government (taxes lol) will be worse off for such a decision. Too bad if your an investor, you put your money in a bad industry, live with it.
EckyThump
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 3:20 PMYou just answered you’re own question! The Government will lose too much revenue if they banned them, plus big tobacco is, I’m sure in their private pockets, too! We need an alternative avenue for revenue,… Hmmm I’m thinking carbon tax, eh? #]
Alex Tan
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 9:55 PMIt would also decrease GDP :(
Just another radiant smoker
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 7:36 PMYeah and while we’re at, let’s ban that other toxic chemical, alcohol, because prohibition really worked! ;-)
And just look at all the people that don’t smoke marijuana because of those pesky laws! /sarcasm
As someone who enjoys a range of chemicals, some legal, some not, I think if people want to smoke, let them. Laws against enjoyable substances don’t stop people using them, they simply force the drugs into a more dangerous and expensive, unregulated world, run by criminals.
Thankfully the number of people taking up smoking is gradully declining, and I think it’s good that cigarettes aren’t on display now, and are much harder for minors to access than they used to be. Its also impossible to not be reminded of the many negative health effects associated with smoking when looking at any pack of cigarettes. All these meaures I fully support, as a smoker.
However rather than criminalise tobacco or drugs of any description (wasting police and court time, prison space, and huge amounts of tax payer’s money) you are better of putting goverment money into regulation, education and rehabilitation. Pretty much what Labor is doing with tobacco now. I just wish they’d adopt a more left wing attitude to other drug harm minimisation.
sketchy
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 10:46 AMI agree with some of what you are saying, but it’s just a joke that a consumable product like this is allowed on the market, complete double standards by the government.
Mike
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 3:43 PMAgree to an extent. There are things which should *never* be legalized, e.g Meth, Cocaine, Heroin. Those are extremely damaging to your body and extremely physically addictive.
Face it, people can’t control themselves. When you get addicted to stuff like that, it shows. It affects those around you, and your mental state. Bigger doses needed more and more often, not good for work or social life.
Alcohol isn’t that physically addictive, so I’d let it stay. Cannabis should definitely get legalized. But Cigarettes? People find it really, really, really hard to stop smoking for a reason.
Paul
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 2:37 PMSmokers just stink, surely that’s grounds enough to ban them.
RB
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 6:55 PMWoo hoo, free chemotherapy!
I remember Dr Karl actually wrote a chapter on radiation in cigarettes in a book of his about 15 years ago, and said it wasn’t particularly harmful.
Daniel
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 8:31 PM@ Author: “Thanks?”
You make it sound like they owe you smokers something? Please, they don’t owe smokers anything. You took that decision, and now you must face it. You know about all the other chemicals pre-made cigarettes have in them, so why should radiation change your mind?
Mike
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 7:33 AMDid he? I know on one of his JJJ shows recently he quoted a study that found a pack a day was the equal to a chest xray every day.
Daniel
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 1:29 AMWhat, so people need their information spoon fed in the form of “analogies” in order to realise something is bad for them?
He found out that a packet a day is equal to a chest x-ray a day. It MUST be bad now! What does a chest x-ray do to the body exactly? He must think by throwing in a known source of radiation, people will suddenly “understand” despite not actually knowing anything about x-rays to begin with.
Anyone who pleads ignorance about the dangers of cigarettes in today’s society is either living under a rock, or just plain thick. You can’t just wake up one day, and say “gee, i didn’t know cigarettes were dangerous, perhaps it’s their fault, not mine”.
Calvin Lichty
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 3:12 AM*lights another cigarette* I can almost taste the smooth flavor of radioactivity and it tastes great!
craeg
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 9:00 AMhttp://www.ihale.com.au
smoke digitally, never worry about this shit again :)
Calvin Lichty
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 3:54 PMI tried that for 3 months. The hardest part was not being able to pop into a Coles or Woolies when I ran out of E-Liquid…
Those iHale E-Cigs are crazy expensive. I picked up a two pack starter kit of the Joy-E 510 for 35 bucks.