Abstract Tobacco smoke contains a complex mixture of over 5000 toxic substances, of which at least 69 are carcinogenic, being also involved in other pathologies such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
The purpose of this review is to highlight the toxicological profile of some of the most harmful xenobiotics in tobacco smoke: NNK (tobacco-specific nitrosamine – Nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone), benzo[a]pyrene and carbon monoxide.
Keywords tobacco, NNK, benzo[a]pyrene, cancer, carbon monoxide.