We all know that cigarettes are dangerous but for some people, they call it life. What is there in breathing smoke coming from tobacco anyway? Well, people somehow find its menthol effect soothing and relaxing. Nevertheless, the greatest disadvantage remains – it is very addictive and destructive to health. Here are the 10 facts that can blow your mind.

Fact #1: Believe it or not, but cigarettes are the top most traded products around the world despite high excise taxes.  There are approximately 1 trillion cigarettes being sold every year with $400 billion take, making it one of the world’s largest industries.

Fact #2: Cigarette brands such as Camel, Newport, and Doral has increased their nicotine content up to 11%. However, eggplants contain more nicotine that you can ever imagine, consisting at least 20lbs.

Fact #3: The first ever cigarettes were made by Washington Duke in 1865. Just by rolling the leaves of tobacco tree and infusing some other ingredients, the hand-rolled cigarettes became popular among the soldiers during the Civil War. He had a 300-acre farm in Raleigh, North Carolina where he used to harvest the ingredients for cigarettes. In 1881, James Bonsack invented a cigarette-making machine and since then smoking became widespread.

Fact #4: American brand cigarettes such as Marlboro, Camel, Kent, and Kool are the bestselling cigarette in the world with approximately 70% supply in the global market.

Fact #5: Cigarette is the number one known source of 43 carcinogens and other harmful body toxins such as arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, hydrogen cyanide, and nitrogen. However, the number of Columbians dying from American tobacco-related causes is more than the number of Americans who die from Columbian cocaine.

Fact #6:  The ironic thing is that while the United States is the biggest producers of cigarettes, China is a record holder for the highest number of smokers consuming approximately 2.2 trillion cigarettes a year.

Fact #7: Tobacco companies spend a lot of money in anti-tobacco commercials. If you notice almost all of the commercials end up with a “Smoke moderately” slogan and a display of their brand, which actually encourage more people to smoke.

Fact #8: Smoking tobacco is not illegal but is only prohibited in public places. The sad fact is that, employers in 21 states including United States can legally deny employment of persons who smoke cigarettes. The tobacco-free employment is strictly mandatory especially in establishment that requires optimum sanitation and health consciousness, such as hospitals. The policy is also implemented at Baylor Health Care System in Texas and Hollywood Casino in Ohio.

Fact #9: Tobacco companies are not bad at all. One of their corporate social responsibilities is to sponsor schools; the most recent one is the Chinese elementary school in 2009. Tobacco manufacturers sent more than 10, 000 of kids to school for free in their slogan “Tobacco can help you become an achiever.”

Fact #10: Cigarettes causing lung cancer is not just a hoax. In 1964, the chief doctor of the U.S. general hospital released a report regarding the dangers of nicotine to mankind’s health. In 1965, a bill was passed ordering tobacco manufacturers to place in every cigarette product a label stating that “Cigarette is dangerous to your health.” However, nobody can still explain how the Mayan Indians of Mexico in 600 to 900 A.D. have had longer life span despite their heavy habits of smoking tobacco.