مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - A new threat to tobacco control: aromatic narghile

Abstract :

The 2000s have been witnessing the development of both a more effective concerted action to fight the global tobacco epidemic by virtue of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco control (WHO-FCTC), and a new global waterpipe smoking epidemic especially among youths in cafés. This global waterpipe smoking epidemic that started in the Middle East Countries in the 1990‟s and has also affected the Turkish youths has been caused by a new tobacco product called maassel or aromatic waterpipe tobacco. This new waterpipe tobacco product is sweetened and flavored by additives such as molasses, glycerin, and fruit-flavored additives which let smoker inhale more easily and make waterpipe smoking more reinforcing. The studies conducted in the last decade showed that this new waterpipe tobacco product is very rich regarding toxic substances in the cigarettes. As a result of recent increase in indoor tobacco smoking bans worlwide, hookah cafes, under the threat of being closed, have introduced a new kind of tobacco-free maassel called herbal narghile. Herbal narghile appears to be a threat to tobacco control and health. Relative to a single cigarette, a single waterpipe tobacco smoking episode causes far greater smoke exposure. Similarly, the smoke inhaled during a waterpipe smoking episode, compared with that inhaled from a single cigarette, contains far greater amounts of CO, heavy metals, polycyclic hydrocarbons, and volatile aldehydes. Burning charcoal smoke during waterpipe use also appears to be an important source for polycyclic hydrocarbons and CO in the mainstream smoke of waterpipe. The waterpipe epidemic that has potential to negatively affect tobacco control should be given emphasis and prirority. Herbal narghile use in closed places should be banned. The use of ingredients that make waterpipe tobacco more attractive (e.g. sweeteners and flavoring agents) should also be prohibited in line with related the recommendation of the WHO-FCTC‟s Fourth Conference of the Parties.