Some facts you didn't know about cigarettes, part 1 of 2

If you are a smoker, chances are you know about the risks involved with smoking cigarettes. You know the tobacco smoke can lead to increased trouble with breathing, emphysema, other various forms of lung disease and even cancer.

However, their are probably a lot of things that you DON'T know about cigarettes.

The following, is a list of the top 30 facts that people do not know about cigarettes.

1.Cigarettes are the most commonly traded item in the world.

The tobacco industry is a huge money maker for not only the United States, but around the entire world. They are so important, that 1 trillion are traded from country to country EVERY YEAR. Those trillion cigarettes each year account for $400 billion dollars, ranking the tobacco industry as one of the largest and most lucrative industries in the world. No wonder nicotine is added to keep you smoking these things, their is serious money to be lost for "big tobacco" if it were easier for people to quit.

2. Cigarette ads on TV have been banned since the 70's

In 1970, United States President Richard Nixon banned any television ad for cigarettes. This law is still in place to this day. The only exception made was that very year. The law was supposed to go into effect on December 30th, 1970, but was extended for one day. Why? Tobacco companies had already paid for advertising space during the Super Bowl and NCAA Bowl games, so President Nixon extended the deadline to January1, 1971.

3. US making money worldwide

The United States doesn't just sell cigarettes to it's own citizen. In fact, the United States sells more cigarettes yearly world wide, then they do right here on their own soil.

4. American brands are top

You are probably familiar with the brand names Marlboro, Kool, Kent and Camel. Well, so is the rest of the world. Those four brands account for 70% of the worlds tobacco sales.

5.Companies adding to the addiction levels

A study conducted by the Harvard University and the Massachusetts Health Department shows that between 1997 and 2005, companies such as Camel, Newport and Doral increased the level of nicotine in their products by as much as 11%.  Nicotine is the addictive ingredient that keeps you buying into the $400 billion dollar.