Hookahs or water pipes are perceived to be a safer smoking alternative by their younger users. The thought process is not scientific, but rather just a gut feel. And so many younger people are attracted to what they perceive as a safer way to enjoy tobacco. There is also a certain Hollywood idealism that surrounds the hookah. It appears very exotic and carries with it an attractive novelty that interests the younger generations today.
But, we here at Unbiased... want to look at a recent study that analyzed carbon monoxide levels of people who frequent hookah cafes. It can be found in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine - 2011, Mar 40(3):324-328. It is entitled "Carbon Monoxide Levels Among Patrons of Hookah Cafes" and presented by Barnett, et al.
They tested patrons from hookah cafes and compared them with those who frequented traditional smokey bars. They found that hookah cafe visitors had a significantly higher level of carbon monoxide (30.8 parts per million - ppm) than did the traditional bar patrons (8.9 ppm). What about those who hadn't smoked in a month prior to visiting the water pipe cafe? They too had higher CO levels with a mean around 28.5 ppm compared to those with the same smoking pattern but had visited a traditional bar (8.0 ppm).
So if you're looking for the water to provide you with a healthier smoking experience, you'll have to invent a better hookah. This evidence goes against the perception often shared by these smokers that hookah is less harmful than cigarettes. As it stands now, hookah patrons find themselves in what could be an unhealthy night out at the cafe.
