Many cigar smokers believe that cigars pose fewer health risks than cigarettes; however, a new report reveals that cigar smokers are exposed to high levels of cancer-causing agents, as well as other toxic substances. Investigators found that cigar smokers had higher levels of cotinine, NNAL, cadmium, and lead in their bodies than people who did not use tobacco. Lead author Dr. Jiping Chen writes, “Cigar smoking exposes users to similar types of harmful and cancer-causing agents as cigarette smoking.” This is alarming as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cigar use doubled between 2000 and 2011.
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, November 2014