Cigar smokers are exposed to higher levels of radiation compared to non-smokers, primarily due to the presence of radioactive substances like polonium-210 in tobacco. Polonium-210 is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope found in tobacco leaves, which accumulates from the decay of uranium and radium in the soil. When tobacco is smoked, polonium-210 emits alpha particles, a form of ionizing radiation that can cause significant damage to lung tissue and increase the risk of cancer.
The radiation exposure from smoking cigars can be higher than from cigarettes because cigars typically contain more tobacco and are often smoked differently. Cigar smokers tend to inhale less deeply than cigarette smokers, but the larger quantity of tobacco and longer smoking duration can lead to substantial radiation dose to the mouth, throat, and lungs. Additionally, the combustion of tobacco releases polonium-210 attached to fine particles that can lodge deep in the respiratory tract, delivering localized radiation doses that contribute to cellular damage.
Polonium-210’s alpha radiation is particularly harmful because alpha particles have high energy but a very short range, meaning they cause intense damage to cells in close proximity. This localized radiation can induce mutations in the DNA of lung and oral tissues, promoting carcinogenesis. The half-life of polonium-210 is about 138 days, so it remains active long enough to pose a persistent risk during smoking and even after tobacco use.
Beyond polonium-210, tobacco smoke contains numerous other carcinogens and toxic substances that synergize with radiation to increase cancer risk. The combined effect of chemical carcinogens and radioactive particles makes smoking, including cigar smoking, a significant health hazard.
It is important to note that while cigar smokers may inhale less frequently or less deeply than cigarette smokers, the overall exposure to radiation and carcinogens can still be substantial due to the volume of tobacco and the nature of cigar smoking. Moreover, the radiation dose from polonium-210 in tobacco smoke is not easily detectable by common radiation detectors because it emits primarily alpha particles with very low gamma radiation.
In summary, cigar smokers are exposed to higher radiation levels than non-smokers because of polonium-210 in tobacco, which emits alpha particles causing localized radiation damage to lung and oral tissues. This radiation exposure, combined with other harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, significantly increases the risk of cancer for cigar smokers.
