2011/02/23 by Reinskje Talhout, Thomas Schulz, Ewa Florek +3 · 829 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · Engineering · Environmental Science · Medicine · #Air Quality and Health Impacts #Biology #Carcinogen #Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment #Chemistry #Cigarette smoke #Computer science #Computer security #Engineering #Environmental health #Environmental science #Hazardous waste #Health risk #Human health #Inhalation #Medicine #Risk assessment #Sidestream smoke #Smoke #Smoke inhalation #Smoking Behavior and Cessation #Third-hand smoke #Tobacco smoke #Toxicology #Waste management
paper · pdf · doi:10.3390/ijerph8020613
published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 8(2), 613-628 (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
openalex publication_date 2011/02/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Tobacco smoke is a toxic and carcinogenic mixture of more than 5,000 chemicals. The present article provides a list of 98 hazardous smoke components, based on an extensive literature search for known smoke components and their human health inhalation risks. An electronic database of smoke components containing more than 2,200 entries was generated. Emission levels in mainstream smoke have been found for 542 of the components and a human inhalation risk value for 98 components. As components with potential carcinogenic, cardiovascular and respiratory effects have been included, the three major smoke-related causes of death are all covered by the list. Given that the currently used Hoffmann list of hazardous smoke components is based on data from the 1990s and only includes carcinogens, it is recommended that the current list of 98 hazardous components is used for regulatory purposes instead. To enable risk assessment of components not covered by this list, thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC) have been established from the inhalation risk values found: 0.0018 μg day(-1) for all risks, and 1.2 μg day(-1) for all risks excluding carcinogenicity, the latter being similar to previously reported inhalation TTCs.