Comparison of levels of some carcinogens in cigarette smoke
| Compound | Safe harbour level* | Units (per day) | Amount in cigarettes | Units (per cigarette) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Data on safe harbour levels (levels of a chemical that are estimated to provide an increased risk of cancer of no more than 1 in 100 000) are from the California Environmental Protection Agency.3 Data on the amounts in cigarettes are from the National Cancer Institute: Risks associated cigarette with low machine-measured yields of tar and nicotine, Smoking and Control Monograph 13.4 | ||||
| Acetaldehyde | 90 | Micrograms | 500–1400 | Micrograms |
| Formaldehyde | 40 | Micrograms | 70–100 | Micrograms |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | 60 | Nanograms | 20–40 | Nanograms |
| Benz(a)anthracene | 40 | Nanograms | 20–70 | Nanograms |
| Dibenzo(a,l)pyrene | 2 | Nanograms | 1.7–3.2 | Nanograms |
| 4-(N-Nitrosomethylamino) -1-(3-pyridyl)1-butanone | 14 | Nanograms | 80–770 | Nanograms |
| Cadmium | 50 | Nanograms | 7–350 | Nanograms |
| Chromium (hexavalent) | 1 | Nanogram | 4–70 | Nanograms |
| Benzene | 7 | Micrograms | 20–70 | Micrograms |
| Ethylene oxide | 2 | Micrograms | 7 | Micrograms |
| N-Nitrosodimethylamine | 40 | Nanograms | 2–180 | Nanograms |