Comparing cigarettes (made with rolling papers) and cigars requires a detailed comparison of how these tobacco products are manufactured, consumed, and ultimately affect the body. Neither product is safe, as both contain nicotine and a wide array of toxic chemicals that pose significant health risks. Analyzing the differences in their chemical makeup and typical usage patterns helps to understand the distinct mechanisms by which they cause harm. The risks are not eliminated but merely shifted based on the product’s design and the user’s behavior.
Structural Differences in Tobacco Products
The fundamental structure of cigarettes and cigars dictates how their smoke is delivered and absorbed. Cigarettes use shredded, processed tobacco wrapped in porous paper, and most include a filter. Cigar tobacco, in contrast, is typically air-cured and fermented, a process that increases the levels of specific toxic compounds.
The cigar’s wrapper is a non-porous tobacco leaf, which contributes to less complete combustion than in a cigarette. This difference, combined with the curing process, results in cigar smoke being significantly more alkaline, with a higher pH. Cigarette smoke, by comparison, is more acidic. The high alkalinity of cigar smoke allows nicotine to be absorbed through the lining of the mouth without requiring inhalation into the lungs.
Toxic Chemical Yield and Absorption
A single cigar can contain a vast amount of tobacco, sometimes as much as an entire pack of cigarettes, which directly impacts the total toxic yield. For every gram of tobacco burned, cigar smoke contains more cancer-causing tar than cigarette smoke. The non-porous cigar wrapper also causes the burning to be less complete, leading to a higher concentration of certain toxins in the smoke.
The fermentation process used for cigar tobacco creates high concentrations of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), which are potent carcinogens found at higher levels in cigar smoke than in cigarette smoke. Cigar smoke also delivers higher levels of certain other toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide, compared to cigarettes, especially on a per-unit basis.
The Role of Inhalation and Frequency
The primary difference in health risk often stems from the user’s behavior, particularly inhalation. Cigarette smoke’s acidic pH means nicotine is not easily absorbed through the mouth, necessitating deep inhalation into the lungs for the user to achieve a nicotine dose. This behavior leads to high exposure of lung tissue to toxins.
Cigar smoke’s alkaline pH allows the nicotine to be absorbed effectively through the oral mucosa. Many cigar smokers typically puff the smoke into their mouth and do not inhale deeply into the lungs. Non-inhaling cigar smokers therefore have lower rates of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than cigarette smokers. However, when cigar smokers do inhale, the health risks become comparable to those of cigarette smoking.
Distinct Disease Outcomes
The distinct sites of absorption determine the primary cancer risk associated with each product. Cigarettes are strongly linked to lung cancer, COPD, and other respiratory diseases due to the deep, habitual inhalation of smoke. The toxins carried deep into the lungs cause widespread cellular damage over time.
Cigars, even when not inhaled, carry a very high risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx. This is because the mouth and throat tissues are exposed to high concentrations of the smoke’s toxic chemicals and carcinogens. When saliva containing smoke chemicals is swallowed, the esophagus is also exposed to carcinogens. Both products, regardless of inhalation, share the risk of nicotine dependence and cardiovascular diseases.