Is hookah more harmful than cigarettes?



What is a hookah used for anyway? Is it trendy, a shared cultural tradition, a social activity or a substitute cigarette vice?

A hookah, shisha or narghile is a water pipe used to smoke sweet-flavored tobacco. It can also be used to smoke other drugs.

The pipe itself can be 2 or 3 feet tall with a number of hoses; some people think it resembles a bassoon.

The shredded tobacco is usually flavored with honey, molasses or fruit, and the blended choices are endless, making it appealing and smooth. It is trendy in the United States, with hookah bars popping up near campuses nationwide.

Hookah began as a traditional Middle Eastern shared-cultural experience. Hookah was smoked for social reasons and on special occasions.

Today, college students go to hookah bars to socialize and relax as well. Some students believe that the water in the pipe absorbs the chemicals found in the tobacco and is harmless, or at least less harmful and addictive than smoking cigarettes.

The research on hookah is still in its early stages, but according to the Mayo Clinic's Web site, tobacco - regardless of the form - can be addictive and can lead to nicotine dependence.

The smoke passing through water may even remove some toxins, but according to the World Health Organization, a hookah session lasting an hour is equivalent to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoking one cigarette.

Dr. Loffredo, director of cancer genetics and epidemiology at the Georgetown University Medical Center, claims that amount is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes.

Further, a report by the Mayo Clinic states that the water-filtered tobacco contains high levels of toxins such as carbon monoxide and heavy metals.

The sweetness of the tobacco and the social factor attract 18- to 24-year-olds, according to the American Cancer Society's 2004 annual report.

While smoking hookah can be fun and relaxing, students should keep in mind their health

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