Hookahs Are Not Safer Than Cigarettes
Hookahs are growing in popularity, but if you’re wondering because you’ve heard that they are “safer” than other methods of smoking, we have bad news for you: they probably aren’t.
It turns out that the water in the hookah is not very good at filtering out toxins from the smoke. A recent chemical analysis of hookah smoke has shown that the smoke contains a lot of nicotine and carcinogens, and that a typical hookah session is likely to expose you to more harmful substances than you would get from smoking a cigarette. This was true even when researchers studied an herbal blend that is marketed as an alternative to tobacco.
The CDC has long warned that hookah smoke is “at least as toxic as cigarette smoke,” with documented health consequences, including cancer risk and risks to babies born to parents who smoke hookah during pregnancy. If you decide to use a hookah, it’s up to you, but don’t feel like it’s the safer option.