Hitting the Hookah is harmful to good health

By Kristina Morris, contributing writer
Posted on September 20, 2007

If you think hookah smoking is better for you than cigarettes, think again. Hookah bars have been growing rapidly across the United States, along with the misconception that smoking hookah is safe. But recent studies show otherwise.

Shisha, or flavored tobacco, is a water pipe made of a bowl, water reservoir and a hose for the inhalation of tobacco smoke. According to the World Health Organization, hookah tobacco is a mixture of about 30 percent crude, cut tobacco, fermented with approximately 70 percent honey, molasses and fruit to create flavor and aroma.

Cigarette smokers on average took eight to 12 puffs and inhaled 0.5 to 0.6 liters of smoke over five to seven minutes, according to a study published by the World Health Organization in 2005.  Hookah smokers may take 50 to 200 puffs and up to a liter of smoke during each hour-long session.

Although the smoke in hookahs is filtered through water, people who use hookahs inhale far more smoke than cigarette smokers, according to the New York Times. This in turn exposes smokers to potentially higher levels of carbon monoxide, nicotine and other chemicals.

The World Health Organization study also found that hookah smoking delivers a high amount of nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco.

According to the Tobacco Free Organization hookah smoke produces nearly 100 times more tar than cigarette smoke for each gram of the respective tobaccos. 

Associate Director of the University Health Center’s Office of Health Promotion Krsitin Gardner said that hookahs may be thought of as safer because they look different than cigarettes.

“I think there is a misperception because the Hookah has a different appearance than a cigarette and there is so much information on the health hazards of cigarette smoke,” she said. “Hookahs are a new trend in the United States, so not as much information is out there.”

Even with the evidence that hookah smoke is dangerous, students have mixed reactions to the findings of the study.

“To me, hookah isn’t really that bad,” sophomore Calvin King said. “I won’t do it forever so I don’t think that the amount I smoke now really has a huge effect on me.”

Kareem Aly, co-owner of the hookah bar Isis Café, believes that although smoking hookah may not have many health benefits, it helps people to relax and socialize.

“Hookah smoking is good for gathering people and helps make people feel cozy,” Aly said.

Senior Alicia Gore disagrees.

 “Although the smoke gets filtered through the water, there is still tobacco in hookah smoke,” she said. “Tobacco is dangerous no matter what the dosage is so I stay away from any hookah smoke no matter what.”

Gardner suggests that students should be aware of their environment and limit themselves to those restaurants that do not allow smoking. The OHP has a “Smoke Free Dining Guide” for the area listing many local establishments that do not allow smoking.