Cigarette smoking, because it exists within the world today, may be a most remarkable phenomenon. It is a habit of the most widespread proportions, and a product of the twentieth century. It is strange that folks should attend such lengths to burn then inhale some substance. We must find out what is rewarding about it. Furthermore, how rewarding can it be that it overcomes the clearly demonstrated punishment meted out by this tenacious habit? In an attempt to obtain some answers to these questions, the symposium was organized and this volume produced. Smoking may be a leading explanation for preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tobacco smoking causes annually 6 million deaths worldwide and is projected to exceed 8 million by 2030, consistent with statistics from the planet Health Organization (WHO). Smoking was identified because the most vital explanation for preventable morbidity and premature death. This ratio is estimated to increase to 10 million in 20–30 years. Due to tobacco use, the morbidity rate is 70% in developing countries, and these countries are those during which problems thanks to epidemic tobacco use are mostly seen. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of chemicals. Some smoke components, like carbon monoxide gas (CO), compound (HCN), and nitrogen oxides, are gases. Others, like formaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, and certain N-nitrosamines, are volatile chemicals contained within the liquid vapor portion of the smoke aerosol. The major health effects of cigarette smoke include:
- Cancer
- Noncancerous lung diseases
- Atherosclerotic diseases of the heart and blood vessels
- Toxicity to the human reproductive system
