Tobacco includes cigarettes, nicotine

Cigarette characteristics that influence nicotine delivery to the smoker (including nicotine and ammonium content in tobacco filler) as well as human smoking behavior, deserve special consideration, because nicotine causes and maintains addiction that leads to chronic exposure to a chemical toxicant with known harmful health effects, including cancer (UDHHS 2004 lARC 2004 2007). 

Reconstituted tobacco is used at high levels in most American blend cigarettes, which are popular in many regions of the world (National Cancer Institute 1996). Reconstituted tobacco sheets are made from processing stems and other parts of the tobacco leaf that would otherwise go to waste. In the course of manufacturing reconstituted tobacco, numerous chemicals are added, including nicotine as replacement for the amount lost in the manufacturing process (Browne 1990 National Cancer Institute 1996). Indeed, this also provides an effective means for manufacturers to control or even increase the amount of nicotine in the total blend (Minnemeyer 1977). 

The manufacturers of tobacco products add fillers, flavor enhancers, preservatives, and other additives to make the product more desirable to consumers, especially low-tar brands. Each company s list of additives was a closely guarded trade secret until 1984, when the lists were submitted to the government. The public was barred from seeing the lists until 1994. The initial list contained 700 potential additives, of which 13 are not allowed in food. One additive, ammonia, may be included to boost the absorption of nicotine and enhance the addictive kick. Sweeteners and chocolate may help make cigarettes more attractive to children and first-time users. 

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