What are the chemical in cigarettes?

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A carcinogen is defined as any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer. Approximately 60 of the chemicals in cigarettes are known to cause cancer.

TSNAs
Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs) are known to be some of the most potent carcinogens present in smokeless tobacco, snuff and tobacco smoke.
Benzene
Benzene can be found in pesticides and gasoline. It is present in high levels in cigarette smoke and accounts for half of all human exposure to this hazardous chemical.
Pesticides
Pesticides are used on our lawns and gardens, and inhaled into our lungs via cigarette smoke.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a chemical used to preserve dead bodies, and is responsible for some of the nose, throat and eye irritation smokers experience when breathing in cigarette smoke.  

Chemicals in Cigarettes: Toxic Metals

Toxic / heavy metals are metals and metal compounds that have the potential to harm our health when absorbed or inhaled. In very small amounts, some of these metals support life, but when taken in large amounts, can become toxic.
Arsenic
Commonly used in rat poison, arsenic finds its way into cigarette smoke through some of the pesticides that are used in tobacco farming.
Cadmium
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that is used in batteries. Smokers typically have twice as much cadmium in their bodies as nonsmokers.
Radioactive Cigarette Smoke
Lead-210 (Pb-210) and polonium-210 (Po-210) are poisonous, radioactive heavy metals that research has shown to be present in cigarette smoke.


Ammonia
Ammonia compounds are commonly used in cleaning products and fertilizers. Ammonia is also used to boost the impact of nicotine in manufactured cigarettes.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is present in car exhaust and is lethal in very large amounts. Cigarette smoke can contain high levels of carbon monoxide.
Hydrogen Cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide was used to kill people in the gas chambers in Nazi Germany during World War II. It can be found in cigarette smoke.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a poison used in pesticides and is the addictive element in cigarettes.

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To put the above answer in perspective:

Formaldehyde is produced endogenously by the human body. So is ammonia. It is essential in the body as a building block for making proteins and other complex molecules.

The benzene, arsenic, cadmium and radioactive lead and polonium (along with several other 'nasties') are absorbed from the atmosphere and soil. They are also absorbed by 'healthy' fruit and vegetables.

Are pesticides not also used on fruit and veg? (Nicotinic pesticide is one of the few approved for organic farming!) Cyanide is present naturally in many nuts and some vegetables.

Nicotine and the dreaded TSNAs are allelochemicals produced by the tobacco plant. These are chemicals produced naturally by the plant to protect it from predators. (The tobacco plant is in the Solanum genus of plants, which also includes potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and egg-plants.) Very little research has been performed on allelochemicals (apart from those from one specific plant!). How safe are those produced by curly kale or bananas?

Bring back science!

First answer by Help is on the way123. Last edit by John the Chemist. Contributor trust: 8 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].