Every day, over 56 million Americans willingly expose themselves to heavy metal toxins. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium are among the hazardous substances they encounter. What’s the source of this toxic exposure? The simple act of smoking, be it through cigarettes or hookah pipes.
Hookah Smoking Is Not a Safer Alternative
There’s a dangerous misconception that smoking tobacco through a hookah or water pipe is somehow less harmful than using traditional cigarettes. It’s vital to clear up this misapprehension. In fact, studies have shown that there is no significant difference in the heavy metal content of smoke inhaled through a water pipe compared to standard cigarettes.
Joseph Caruso, Ph.D., led a study at the University of Cincinnati examining the harmful effects of smoking. He stated, “Any form of smoking is dangerous, and our studies on toxic metals in hookah smoke are taking the first steps toward the necessary animal and human studies that will establish a clearer picture of the relative dangers of hookah and cigarette smoking.”
Difficulties in Comparing Hookah and Cigarette Smoking: Different, but Both Dangerous
Comparing the risks of hookah smoking with those of cigarettes is no easy task, given that the two habits diverge in several ways. According to Caruso, “It is very difficult to compare hookah smoking with cigarette smoking because they are done so differently.”
Studies have found that a one-hour hookah session typically involves 200 puffs of smoke, while an average cigarette takes just 20 puffs to consume. The World Health Organization has estimated that a one-hour hookah session is equivalent to smoking up to 10 packs of cigarettes. However, people who smoke shisha — the tobacco product used in hookah pipes — tend to do so less frequently than cigarette smokers.
“All of these things make hookah smoking different from cigarette smoking, and it also makes it difficult to compare the two, which is partly the reason why there are so few studies on the topic,” said researcher Ryan Saadawi.
Assessing the Heavy Metal Content in Traditional Smoking vs. Hookah Pipes
While studies comparing traditional smoking and hookah smoking are relatively scarce, researchers have been able to glean some information on the heavy metal content of each.
Heavy metal toxins are present in cigarette smoke. According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoke contains significant levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium. Each of these substances poses a distinct threat to human health.
Arsenic is a highly lethal toxin that can lead to various cancers, as well as heart disease. Cadmium is a carcinogen that targets the lungs, and it can also cause kidney damage and respiratory problems. Lead is a neurotoxin that disrupts cognitive function and can lead to severe kidney or cardiovascular damage. Chromium, typically found in high concentrations in cigarette smoke, is another potent carcinogen.
The situation is not appreciably different when it comes to hookah smoking. Researchers have compared the levels of heavy metals in water pipes against those in cigarettes, noting that similar concentrations of these toxic substances exist in both forms of tobacco smoke.
The Importance of Addressing the Common Misconception About Hookah Smoking
Smoking hookah has become more popular in recent years, particularly among young adults. It’s a worrying trend. Many people, especially those new to smoking, may be under the impression that hookah smoking carries minimal risks and is therefore a safer choice than cigarette smoking.
As mentioned previously, this is a dangerously false assumption. All types of smoking come with inherent hazards, and it is essential to dispel the myth that smoking shisha through a hookah pipe is somehow less dangerous than smoking traditional cigarettes.
Considering the high levels of heavy metals and other toxic substances in both hookah and cigarette smoke, it’s crucial to understand that smoking, in any form, puts one’s health at serious risk. The fact that there are few published studies on this issue and that hookah and cigarette smoking are difficult to compare directly should not detract from the core message: smoking is dangerous.
Minimizing or eliminating smoking will help reduce exposure to heavy metal toxins, carcinogens, and other harmful substances. Avoiding smoking altogether is the best course of action for promoting long-term health and well-being.
