Effects of hookah smoking on indoor air quality in homes

Abstract

Introduction Hookahs (water pipes) are rapidly increasing in popularity worldwide. Evidence suggests that although perceived as safer than cigarette smoke, hookah smoke may be as, or even more, dangerous as cigarette smoke. Methods Air samples from 33 homes—11 where only hookah-smoking occurred, 12 with only cigarettes and 10 with no smoking—were collected to analyse concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon, elemental and organic carbon and carbon monoxide (CO). Air quality was assessed in rooms where smoking occurred and in an adjacent room. Results Hookah and cigarette smoking impaired home air quality. The rooms in which hookahs were smoked showed the highest concentrations for all pollutants. CO was significantly greater in the rooms where hookahs were smoked than in the cigarette-smoking rooms and the non-smoking households (p<0.05). In addition, CO levels in the rooms adjacent to where hookah was smoked were 2.5-fold to 4-fold greater than those in the smoking and non-smoking rooms of the cigarette homes (p<0.05). PM2.5 levels were also elevated in hookah homes compared to cigarette and non-smoking homes, although not significantly different. Conclusions This study, the first of its kind, demonstrates potentially hazardous levels of home air pollution in rooms where hookahs are being smoked as well as in adjacent rooms. These levels were greater than those in cigarette smoking homes, raising concerns about potential negative health effects on all individuals living in homes where hookahs are smoked.

Indoor air pollution and exposure assessment of the gulf cooperation council countries: A critical review

“…Hookah cigarette is another major source of indoor air pollution problem in UAE. Weitzman et al (2016) measured that there is a wide variability of exposure levels between non-hookah PM 2.5 concentration level (210.8 μg/m 3 (95% CI: 78.4-343.2)) and hookah smoking PM 2.5 concentration level (428.6 μg/ m 3 (95% CI: 50.2-806.9)) rooms. Additionally, large amounts of Zn, Cu, V, Ni, Pb, Mn and Cr elements were found to exist as ultrafine particles (PM 0.1 ) and fine particles (PM 2.5 ) in UAE indoors (Hamdan et al, 2018), where the majority of dwellers spend 85% of their times indoors, especially during summer seasons.…”

“…However, the mechanism that could filter out ambient pollutants via natural ventilation was recommended by Behzadi and Fadeyi (2012). Replacing charcoal burning stoves with electronic heating plates had a greater potential of reducing concentration levels of CO emitted from hookah smoking locations (Weitzman et al, 2016). Since indoor air pollution is one of the public health issues in UAE schools, UAE government has instituted Emirates coalition for green schools.…”

“…Recent studies in KSA have identified Radon ( 222 Rn) gas as another indoor air pollutant (Abo-Elmagd et al, 2018;Alghamdi and Aleissa, 2014). Moreover, it has been reported that indoor air pollution in most cities in the GCC region is due to the infiltration of ambient air pollutants into residential buildings, poor ventilations, burning of biomasses (Arabian incense), and overcrowding (Argyropoulos et al, 2016;Fadeyi et al, 2014;Jomehzadeh et al, 2017;Weitzman et al, 2016;Yaghi and Abdul-Wahab, 2003). For example, incomplete burning of Arabian incense emits CO, PM 10 , PM 2.5 , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and black carbon (BC), which cause deleterious health effects for the exposed population (Du et al, 2018).…”

“…Mitigation measurement of indoor air pollution exposures in the GCC countries by various studies. Proper ventilations while burning incense, application of low smoke-producing charcoal when burning incense greatly reduces CO and CO 2 Weitzman et al (2016),. UAE…”

American pediatric society’s 2017 John Howland award acceptance lecture: a tale of two toxicants: childhood exposure to lead and tobacco

“…Hookah-smoking results in far more dangerous levels of air pollutants than cigarette smoking (79)(80)(81)(82) and both active hookah smoking and SHS are associated with major shortand long-term health effects (83)(84)(85). However, whether it leads to nicotine addiction, cigarette uptake, or cigarette cessation is still unknown (86,87).…”