An obvious answer would be tar, but I can't find any analytical evidence for this. I have even found some weak evidence* against this. It seems that it's not even one particular substance.
Haemosiderin is sometimes implicated, but acculumation of this compound is seen equally in smokers and non-smokers.**
*Joyce K. Newman PhD , A. E. Vatter PhD & O. K. Reiss PhD (1967) Chemical and Electron Microscopic Studies of the Black Pigment of the Human Lung, Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 15:4, 420-429, DOI: 10.1080/00039896.1967.10664943
** Craig, P. J., Wells, A. U., Doffman, S., Rassl, D., Colby, T. V., Hansell, D. M., ... & Nicholson, A. G. (2004). Desquamative interstitial pneumonia, respiratory bronchiolitis and their relationship to smoking. Histopathology, 45(3), 275-282, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2004.01921.x
It has usually been thought to be tars but now some are saying it could be carbon nanoparticles. see attached
The black staining is explained by lung resident macrophages that ingested carbon black particles.
Carbonaceous dust is definitely the main source of black staining in lung tissues.
Please, look at this paper too: Cohen RA et al, 2016 in Am J Respir Crit Care Med.
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