Source: http://www.gmu.edu/student/quitsmoking/chemicals.html

*Methanol: A chemical that helps keep the tip of the cigarette burning hot.

**Insecticides: Fungicides and pesticides help to prolong the shelf life of cigarettes. These can cause many types of cancers and birth defects.

***Cadmium: is a very poisonous metal, commonly used to make batteries. "Repeated or long-term exposure to cadmium, even at relatively low concentrations, may result in kidney damage and an increased risk of cancer of the lung and of the prostate." US EPA

****Formaldehyde: is used to preserve dead bodies. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen in cigarette smoke, and also causes respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.

*****: Lead is a highly toxic metal, capable of causing serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells. "Children are particularly vulnerable because lead is more easily absorbed into growing bodies and the tissues of small children are sensitive to its effects.

Lead exposure in children can result in delays in physical development, lower IQ levels, shortened attention spans and increased behavioural problems" US EPA.

PS: Ammonia, sucrose, cocoa, and citric acid are added to cigarettes to help nicotine vapour be absorbed through your lungs more quickly to speed the nicotine 'hit'. Increasing the impact of nicotine by adding ammonia is called ‘free-basing’, which is similar to the chemical process used to heighten the effects of cocaine.