Nicotine is one of the most toxic of all poisons and has a rapid onset of action. Apart from local actions, the target organs are the peripheral and central nervous systems. In severe poisoning, there are tremors, prostration, cyanosis, dypnoea, convulsion, progression to collapse and coma. Even death may occur from paralysis of respiratory muscles and/or central respiratory failure with a LD50 in adults of around 30-60 mg of nicotine. In children the LD50 is around 10 mg.
The LD50 of caffine is over 100 mg per kg. That’s not just a dosage difference, either. Nicotine gum comes in 2-6 mg doses - chewing 5 pieces of extra-strength gum can bring you up to the LD50.
Drinking 5 celsius drinks - one of the strongest (and most maliciously marketed) energy drinks - at 200mg per can doesn’t bring you even close to the LD50 of caffeine.
Nicotine is:
More toxic
More carcinogenic
More addictive
AND the addiction is heritable.
This in turn reinforces the addiction by inducing craving. This effect has been shown to affect the CYP2A6 gene and leads to heritable dependence to nicotine. Studies have shown the nicotine dependence to be transmitted maternally and grand maternally by epigenetic mechanism.
You can be genetically susceptible to nicotine addiction because your grandmother smoked cigarrettes. Not because she herself was genetically susceptible - no, literally just because she smoked. And the same effect would occur if your grandmother only used tobacco-free nicotine products.
Congrats kids, welcome to the new generation of Big Tobacco influencing society to think it’s okay. History sure does rhyme.
Nicotine is worse.
The LD50 of caffine is over 100 mg per kg. That’s not just a dosage difference, either. Nicotine gum comes in 2-6 mg doses - chewing 5 pieces of extra-strength gum can bring you up to the LD50.
Drinking 5 celsius drinks - one of the strongest (and most maliciously marketed) energy drinks - at 200mg per can doesn’t bring you even close to the LD50 of caffeine.
Nicotine is:
You can be genetically susceptible to nicotine addiction because your grandmother smoked cigarrettes. Not because she herself was genetically susceptible - no, literally just because she smoked. And the same effect would occur if your grandmother only used tobacco-free nicotine products.
Congrats kids, welcome to the new generation of Big Tobacco influencing society to think it’s okay. History sure does rhyme.