Abstract
Smoking is currently the main cause of preventable illnesses and deaths in the United States.
The chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage nearly every organ in the body, though the
lungs are at the greatest risk. Smoking can both cause pulmonary diseases as well as
exacerbate existing conditions. This paper will describe various pulmonary effects of
smoking. It will include the mechanisms which cause lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic
bronchitis, as well as those which worsen asthma and COVID-19. It will further discuss the
pulmonary effects of secondhand smoking, and the potential hazardous effects of e-cigarette
use will be projected. Halachot pertaining to the permissibility of smoking will be studied as
well, particularly with regards to the associated health concerns.
Description
Senior honors thesis. Opt-out: For access, please contact: yair@yu.edu
