The Rising Allure—and Danger—of Hookah

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Actually there are no chemicals inside a hookah. It all depends on what type of coals you use. We use all natural coconut coals, made from pressed coconut shells. Hookah tobacco has about 0.05% nicotine, 0% tar. So it takes about a month to get the nicotine affect. Hookah has a very slow shot of nicotine. In a cigarette its a very quick shot of nicotine. I know because i work in a hookah lounge. And hookah is not even smoke at all, its actually water vapor. If you used quick light coals: those has all those chemicals. I advised to use natural coals.

Forrest Begg of CA 1:15AM April 09, 2013

My daugjt recently return from a student trip to Spain where she experienced hookah smoking for the first time. She is now experiencing shortness of breathe and heart palpitation. Just to let you know, she was extremely healthy prior to this experience. I'm concerned that the hookah sessions with her friends has created a long-term health problem.

Ruth of DC 6:31AM August 12, 2012

cigarette smoke contains formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone, arsenic, and benzene just to name a few and if you figure that the average smoker smokes a pack a day that is 20 cigarettes. There for you have the smoker taking in pretty close to the same amount of smoke and who knows how many more chemicals.

tyler of AZ 5:56PM April 06, 2011

I like Hookah and this article is very informative. And over all im glad that i read this.
BUT i feel that is leaving out the 500 other chemicals that are in cigarettes. Yes Shisha is tobacco but it is in NO way as harmful or more harmful than the chemicals that are in cigarettes. Any form of smoke will have carbon dioxide. its Smoke. Thank You Lisa for the information on Herbal shisha! I will definitely use that instead.
GREAT ARTICLE!!!

sondralyn of MO 12:50AM November 23, 2010

I smoke hookah and I never smoke cigarettes and I only smoke hookah with a group of friends and the only thing I'd even consider smoking outside of hookah is black & milds just because they're flavored.

no of AL 5:00AM November 02, 2010

I find this article quite interesting, considering the last hookah tobacco box that I read stated that there was 0% tar and 0.05% nicotine. I do believe that 1 cigarette carries more than 0.05% nicotine. Maybe this is just another way for big tobacco to attempt to contain its grasp on the federal govn, or maybe its the other way around.

C of PA 12:00PM October 13, 2010

Yes, but there are two types of hookah and you are only referring to the kind that contains tobacco. There is hookah that contains absolutely no tobacco, which is herbal hookah.

Lisa-Marie 1:17PM September 17, 2010