Hookahs less addictive than cigarettes but still toxic

Scientists in California who tested experienced smokers found that those who smoke tobacco through water pipes absorb less nicotine than cigarette smokers, but are exposed to a different set of carcinogenic toxicants. Writing in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, they described how they used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to measure a series of compounds associated with smoking in the plasma and urine of both sets of smokers.

Equating 3 water pipe sessions with 11 cigarettes a day, the average daily nicotine intake was about 50% lower for water pipe smokers than cigarette smokers, suggesting that this form of smoking might be less addictive. Conversely, the water pipe smokers are exposed to far greater levels of carbon monoxide and benzene than cigarette smokers, probably due to their formation from burning charcoal.

These findings contradict the generally held belief that water pipe smoking is safer than cigarette smoking. This is supported by the presence of a number of the carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the urine of both types of smoker, although higher-molecular-weight members were observed in the water pipe smokers.