I Smoke So Why Am I Not Getting Nicotine Poisoning?

I am a smoker and I’ve been repeatedly warned about nicotine poisoning. I find it hard to believe though, considering that I’ve been feeling fine after almost 20 years of smoking. What is nicotine poisoning? What manifestations are evident with nicotine poisoning? 

At present, nicotine is one of the most lethal poisons known to man and virtually all toxicities involving nicotine are from cigarettes. Most nicotine poisoning cases occur as a result of its use as a pesticide. It is said that 60 milligrams of nicotine can potentially kill an adult. That is the amount of nicotine in 3 packs of cigarettes or half a cigar.

Children are particularly vulnerable to nicotine poisoning. More than 90% of toxic exposures from cigarettes in the United States are reported in children. Every year, thousands of children are taken to the emergency room after having ingested cigarettes or even cigarette butts. Consuming one cigarette’s worth of nicotine or 3 cigarette butts or even drinking saliva expectorated by a tobacco chewer (often collected in a can) can make a toddler severely ill of nicotine poisoning. Children have also been known to be poisoned by topical medicinal creams and herbal drugs containing nicotine.

Tobacco harvesters are often exposed to nicotine poisoning as well in the form of Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS). GTS results from dermal or skin exposure to dissolved nicotine from wet tobacco leaves. Smokers are often spared from nicotine poisoning because of the fact that most of the nicotine is burned while smoking. However, a number of carcinogens are produced, and when smoked in large amounts the way chain smokers do, it may still lead to nicotine poisoning. Nicotine is well absorbed by inhalation, dermal, and rectal exposure.

Acute nicotine poisoning results from skin contamination or inhalation of tobacco smoke. The two main symptoms of nicotine poisoning are respiratory stimulation and gastrointestinal hyperactivity. Other symptoms may appear depending on the amount of exposure. In small doses, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, high blood pressure, sweating, and drooling are often observed. The patient gradually recovers after a period of weakness. In large doses, burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach occur in addition to the other symptoms. It may progress to prostration, convulsions, bradycardia, arrhythmia, and coma. Death occurs between 5 minutes to 4 hours. In addition to this, tobacco smoking increases the incidence of coronary heart disease and respiratory tract cancer.

There are emergency procedures that should be followed in cases of nicotine poisoning. When dermally absorbed, wash skin vigorously with soap and water. Emesis is not advised because patient may already be vomiting. Activated charcoal should be given orally to absorb the nicotine. Cathartic may also be administered with the charcoal. A gastric lavage may be performed soon after ingestion or in patients who are comatose and at risk of convulsing. It is essential that seizures are controlled.

Indeed, smokers may become too complacent and take the risk of nicotine poisoning for granted. Bear in mind that though you may be feeling safe, others, especially children, may be at risk because of your actions.