Hookah smoking is just as harmful as smoking traditional cigarettes. Hookah tobacco also has many harmful chemicals and toxins, some of which may also cause oral, lung and mouth cancers. Hookah uses specially prepared tobacco, sometimes with flavorings added such as mint, apple, chocolate, cherry, etc. Smoking hookah also poses the risk of addiction, which adds another layer of concern. Hookah is a water pipe designed to smoke sweetened tobacco. The pipe is usually large, with a water chamber, also a tobacco chamber, and tubes to allow a single person or multiple people to inhale. Because hookah uses honey, coconut and other sweet flavorings, it sometimes becomes appealing to young people. Hookah may also be used to smoke marijuana or hashis, which is also dangerous and bad for ones health. Below is a list of some of the toxins in hookah.
Hookah Toxins
Here is a list of the most common toxins in hookah.
- Acetaldehyde
- Acrolein
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Carbon Monoxide
- Chromium
- Cobalt
- Formaldehyde
- Lead
- Nickel
- Polonium210 and radioactive isotope
- Tar
It is also important to note that the charcoal used to smoke hookah contains cancerous chemicals, and carbon monoxide, adding even more danger to the smoker. Hookah smokers inhale 9 times the amount of carbon monoxide, and 1.7 times more nicotine than those who smoke a single cigarette. Hookah does not only cause several different types of cancer, it also affects women’s health and fertility.
Summary
Raising awareness of the importance to living a healthy life is of great importance, and even more important it is to educate the youth of the dangers and risks of smoking. Smoking can affect the health of the smoker and also those around them, causing lung damage, organ damage, and even cancer. It’s important to seek help for smoking addiction so you and your loved ones can live a happy and healthy life.
Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0F7nS-ZOf8&t=1370s https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/hookahs/index.htm#:~:text=Even%20after%20it%20has%20passed,levels%20of%20these%20toxic%20agents.&text=Hookah%20tobacco%20and%20smoke%20contain,%2C%20bladder%2C%20and%20oral%20cancers.&text=Tobacco%20juices%20from%20hookahs%20irritate,risk%20of%20developing%20oral%20cancers.
