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An allelochemical is a chemical which has allelopathic affects - that which is able to release a toxin to suppress growth of nearby competing plants.
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How much tobacco in a tobacco plant?
The main chemical in all plants is cellulose, with a mixture of other polysaccharides. Then there are water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. All plants synthesise a number, usually around 40-100, of allelochemicals to ward off predators, for reproduction, etc. Nicotine is one such allelochemical produced by the tobacco plant (and in smaller quantities by the potato, tomato, bell pepper, egg-plant and some teas). All of the quoted 'nasties' like mercury, arsenic, lead, polonium, etc. are absorbed from the environment, as is equally the case for ALL plants, including 'healthy' fruit and vegetables.
What is a property of nicotine?
Nicotine is an allelochemical. All plants naturally produce scores of these chemicals to protect them from herbivores, pests or contesting plants, to grow and to reproduce. Very little research has been made into allelochemicals (apart from nicotine!) but what little has been performed suggests that many could be toxic (in the appropriate dose) or even carcinogenic. Nicotine is produced by the tobacco plant to repel pests. Nicotinic pesticide is approved for organic farming use. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry is trialling nicotine-based drugs to treat a range of medical conditions from obesity, dementia and psychotic disorders, as well as for pain relief. P.S. Nicotinic acid is a byproduct of the oxidation (burning) of nicotine. It is also known as niacin and Vitamin B3.
What is a natural property of nicotine?
Nicotine is an allelochemical. All plants naturally produce scores of these chemicals to protect them from herbivores, pests or contesting plants, to grow and to reproduce. Very little research has been made into allelochemicals (apart from nicotine!) but what little has been performed suggests that many could be toxic (in the appropriate dose) or even carcinogenic. Nicotine is produced by the tobacco plant to repel pests. Nicotinic pesticide is approved for organic farming use. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry is trialling nicotine-based drugs to treat a range of medical conditions from obesity, dementia and psychotic disorders, as well as for pain relief. P.S. Nicotinic acid is a byproduct of the oxidation (burning) of nicotine. It is also known as niacin and Vitamin B3.
An addictive chemical in tobacco?
For a start, it depends on how "addiction" is defined. Under the definition used by Tobacco Control, enjoying a bar of chocolate, chatting to your mates on Facebook or watching your favourite programme on TV could also be interpreted as "addictive". The chemical universally blamed is nicotine, which is an allelochemical - a naturally produced 'pesticide' - produced not only by the tobacco plant but also by other members of the Solanaceae family, including potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and aubergines (eggplants). The long-term failure rate of NRT, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, (up to 98.4% according to studies performed by the manufacturers themselves!) suggests that there are other chemicals or factors involved. However, there seems to be little, if any, research to attempt to identify them. Why? The phrase "follow the money" comes to mind. Would you keep taking a painkiller that only relieved your headache once in a blue moon, even if it was prescribed by a doctor?
What is in cigarettes that can kill you?
(arcinic,stric-9,cyinyde,) tobacco leaves are processed in vats where chemicals are added then the tobacco is dried and packaged. Do you mean arsenic, strychnine and cyanide? Arsenious pesticides were commonly used on many crops, including tobacco, but their use has been banned for decades. Arsenic occurs naturally and is absorbed by all plants (and domestic water supplies) from the environment. Strychnine is an allelochemical produced by the strychnos genus of plants, of an entirely different family to the tobacco plant. It is used as a pesticide and rodenticide but its use is severely restricted to below-ground. Cyanide is produced naturally by over 1,000 plant species, but not by the tobacco plant. It is present in apricots, peaches, apples, raspberries, many nuts in particular almonds, and vegetables, such as corn, butter beans and spinach. The permitted levels of arsenic and cyanide in foods and domestic drinking water are substantially higher than those found in tobacco. Many foods are processed in vats and chemicals added!
What is the harmful chemical found in cigerettes?
Nicotine may be cited as one of the most well-known additives of cigarettes, but there are other substances added by tobacco companies that pack a more powerful, and dangerous, punch.Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals -- a big jump from the tobacco, rolling paper and filter tip. Of those 4,000 additives, there are nearly 50 known carcinogens -- cancer-causing substances -- in each cigarette. Some of these include cadmium, a substance used to produce batteries; and formaldehyde, the liquid most commonly recognized for preserving amphibians in science labs. Both of these have been proved to cause cancer in both humans and animals.In addition to cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke, there are many other irritants found in cigarette smoke.Ammonia, acetone and arsenic are household names because of their use in cleaning products, nail-polish remover and rat poison. These are also included in cigarette smoke. Some chemicals, including ammonia, have been added by tobacco companies to mask the harsh taste of the tobacco. These chemicals also help to convert the nicotine to a gaseous form. This helps the addiction-forming nicotine to be absorbed into the blood stream more effectively.Each time a smoker lights up, they are exposing themselves -- and all others around them -- to carcinogens, chemicals and secondhand smoke.Cigarettes that have been analyzed in labs have revealed a very large number of different substances, due in part to the fact that the original chemicals placed into a cigarette are burned, and produce a plethora of byproducts from the burning. Hence a comprehensive list of chemicals is near impossible, however a list can be formulated based on the amount produced and its effects of health. Of the harmful and possibly harmful chemicals, these include:Acetaldehyde - 980 micrograms to 1.37 milligramsAcrylonitrile - formerly 1 to 2 milligrams. This product was used as a fumigant in tobacco. Its use has since been discontinued.4-Aminobiphenyl - 0.2 to 23 nanograms per cigaretteArsenic - unknownBenzene - 5.9 to 75 microgramsBeryllium - 0.5 nanograms1,3-Butadiene - 152 to 400 microgramsCadmium - 1.7 micrograms1,1-Dimethylhydrazine - unknownEthylene oxide - unknownFormaldehyde - unknownHeterocyclic amines - unknownHydrazine - 32 microgramsIsoprene - about 3.1 milligramsLead - unknown2-Naphthylamine - 1.5 to 35 nanogramsN-Nitrosodi-n-Butylamine - 3 nanogramsN-Nitrosodiethanolamine - 24 to 36 nanogramsN-Nitrosodiethylamine - up to 8.3 nanogramsN-Nitrosodimethylamine - 5.7 to 43 nanogramsN-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine - 1 nanogram4-(N-Nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Butanone - up to 4.2 microgramsN-Nitrosonornicotine - 14 microgramsN-Nitrosopyrrolidine - 113 nanogramsN-Nitrososarcosine - 22 to 460 nanogramsPolonium-210 - variable, depending on soil and fertilizer used to grow tobaccoPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon - 28 to 100 milligramso-Toluidine - 32 nanogramsVinyl chloride - 5.6 to 27 nanogramsChemical quantities are unknown generally due to the fact that either a process of measuring them reliably is not possible or the value varies for too much for unknown reasons.Nicotine is an allelochemical - one produced naturally by the plant - not an additive. All plants, including fruit and vegetables, produce their own allelochemicals, yet very little research has been done on their toxicity and carcinogenicity (apart from those of one particular plant!).All the above 'nasties' will be found in the combustion gases of most carboniferous substances, such as domestic gas, oil, petroleum, coal, candle wax, wood and incense. Several impartial studies have suggested that exposure to the fumes from gas heaters and wood-burning stones is more harmful than exposure to tobacco smoke.
