MYTH or FACT: Hookah is Healthier Than Cigarettes (Winter 08)

By: Lara Kuyumjian
Lara88.Bruin@ucla.edu

There is a widely accepted belief circulated among students that smoking hookah is not as harsh on your lungs as smoking cigarettes.

Although it is commonly believed that the water in the hookah filters out all the harmful "stuff" in the tobacco smoke, in actuality, this is just a myth. The fact that the smoke suffuses through the water does not alter the chemical composition of it.

The tobacco used while smoking hookah is no less toxic than that of cigarettes. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, a typical one-hour long hookah smoking session involves inhaling 100-200 times the volume of smoke inhaled with a single cigarette.

Even after water filtration, hookah’s tobacco smoke still contains high levels of toxic compounds, including carbon monoxide, heavy metals, carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals), and substantial levels of nicotine (the addictive material in tobacco).

Several hookah tobaccos claim to contain zero percent tar; however, this is misleading due to the fact that tar is generated when tobacco burns. While smoking hookah, the tobacco is heated until it burns, creating tar. The hookah smoker is able to taste the tobacco flavor after the tobacco is burnt (after tar is created).

Research suggests that a session of hookah tobacco smoking, which lasts 45 minutes, dispenses about ten percent more tar and carbon monoxide than a pack of cigarettes.

There are numerous ways to lessen the level of impact on a smoker’s health. The levels of carbon monoxide produced during a hookah session varies widely depending on the type of coal used. By using Japanese charcoals, the amount of carbon monoxide produced is lower than that of other charcoals.

Another way to decrease the harsh effects of hookah on the smoker is by installing safety devices as part of the set-up and components of the hookah. Somewhat separating the coal from the tobacco by placing a perforated thermal cover (such as a tin foil) over the bowl will reduce tar output and minimize the inhalation of coal ash with the smoke.

Installing a diffuser, such as the Heba diffuser, around the down-stem, breaks down the hookah smoke into tiny bubbles for increased water filtration.

A new method of smoking using herbal flavors aimed at replacing tobacco would eliminate the negative health effects. Herbal hookahs contain Sugar Cane Bagasse, which has no tobacco, nicotine, or tar.

Popular brands include Soex, Highlife, and Black Label.

Studies show that smoking herbal hookah as opposed to tobacco will significantly decrease the health risks associated with smoking tobacco.

Despite the negative side-effects of smoking hookah, research has indicated that the use of hookah may comparatively contain slightly reduced cancer risks, though such studies are not conclusive.

Even though hookah is operated by water filtration and indirect heat, it seems it is a more health threatening activity than smoking cigarettes.