The International Association for the Study of Cancer (IARC) has created a carcinogenic agents classification list. Carcinogens promote the regeneration of healthy cells into cancerous ones. The classification consists of 4 categories depending on the degree of carcinogenic effect. Tobacco is in the 1st (the most dangerous) category.


Tobacco includes 4,000 chemical compounds, carcinogenic gases, nicotine, water and tobacco tar. Smokers face a lot of malignant formations. How, for example, are tobacco smoking and breast cancer associated? IARC researchers conducted more than 150 epidemiological studies to find it out.


Diseases caused by smoking

Carcinogen

Malignant formation promoted by smoking (according to IARC)

Malignant formation, which is promoted by smoking (a limited number of IARC evidence)

Tobacco smoking

  • Oral cavity
  • Nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses
  • The throat and esophagus
  • Colon and rectum
  • Stomach and pancreas
  • Liver and kidneys
  • Lungs
  • Cervix and ovaries
  • Bladder
  • Ureter
  • Bone marrow

Mammary gland in women

Smoking parents

(cancer in children)

Hepatoblastoma

Leukemia

Passive smoking

Lungs

Larynx and pharynx

Smokeless tobacco
  • Oral cavity
  • esophagus
  • pancreas

Carcinogenic agents classification list according to IARC