Washington, Nov 27: Now there is one more reason why one should quit smoking — as American scientists have claimed that smokers inhale live bacteria which increases the risk of many infections and chronic diseases.
According to researchers at the University of Maryland, cigarettes contain hundreds of different strains of bacteria, including many human pathogens that may play a role in lung diseases and respiratory infections.
Earlier researches have focused on the impact of chemicals in cigarettes and the particulates that are produced when tobacco is burned, but the new study paints the most complete picture to date of the bacteria in tobacco, suggesting that the germs could be another potential source of infection and disease.
“We thought it was a crazy idea to look at commercially available cigarettes to understand bacterial diversity,” said lead author Amy Sapkota.
–PTI