Cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals, over 50 of which are known carcinogens (cancer causing poisons). These chemicals perform a range of functions – anything from improving the taste to slowing down the burn rate. Some of them don't perform any function at all, but the tobacco companies refuse to disclose how they get included. Here are the top 5 most deadly chemicals found in cigarettes...

1. Cyanide

Used by the Nazi's in their concentration camps during World War 2 (in the form of hydrogen cyanide), Cyanide is one of the most deadly poisons in the world.

2. Arsenic

Arsenic is commonly used in traps to kill rodents by dehydration.

3. DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane )

DDT is a very well known synthetic pesticide still used in various parts of the world. It has been banned in the USA since 1972. Likely it ends up in tobacco where it is grown outside the U.S.

4. Carbon Monoxide

This gas is made even more deadly by its colorless, odorless properties. Carbon monoxide kills by asphyxiation – it replaces oxygen in the blood stream with CO molecules. It is a common byproduct of burning appliances in the house, the car, and from cigarettes.

5. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a liquid commonly used for preserving dead tissue. It is also highly poisonous, causing intestinal and major organ disruption.

These chemicals perform a range of functions, from slowing the burn rate to altering the flavor. In all cases, they're just part of the design to kill – to make smoking cigarettes more addictive. With all these chemicals it's no wonder that cigarettes remain the leading cause of preventable death, and one of the top causes of death world wide.