Measuring Indoor Air Quality of Hookah Lounges

Fiala, Steven C.; Morris, Daniel S.; Pawlak, Rebecca

doi:10.2105/ajph.2012.300751

Cited by 33 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Similar increases in levels of pollutants, such as PM2.5, BC, CO, and nicotine, have now been reported in several studies 25 26 33. This documented poor indoor air quality suggests that hookah bar workers, as well as patrons of hookah bars, inhale airborne particles and gases that can potentially cause adverse health effects 28–30.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Secondhand hookah smoke: an occupational hazard for hookah bar employees

et al. 2016

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Secondhand hookah smoke: an occupational hazard for hookah bar employees

et al. 2016

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“…Interestingly, air quality levels in the smoking rooms and adjacent rooms in hookah-smoking homes were found to be similar with those of hookah bars with multiple smokers and little to no ventilation 25 30…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…It is a global problem, primarily emanating from the Middle East,4 and as a result, countries like the UAE have enacted a number of laws concerning tobacco use and hookah use in the past decade 32. Virtually all that we know to date about air quality and health effects of hookah use and exposure to hookah-related SHS, however, comes from studies conducted in settings other than homes where hookah is smoked 20 25 29 30. This is the first study that we are aware of that investigates multiple air pollutants in homes where hookahs are smoked, demonstrating potentially hazardously high levels of all pollutants assessed in rooms where hookah was smoked and in the adjacent rooms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hookah smoking on indoor air quality in homes

et al. 2016

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Introduction Hookahs (water pipes) are rapidly increasing in popularity worldwide. Evidence suggests that although perceived as safer than cigarette smoke, hookah smoke may be as, or even more, dangerous as cigarette smoke. Methods Air samples from 33 homes—11 where only hookah-smoking occurred, 12 with only cigarettes and 10 with no smoking—were collected to analyse concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon, elemental and organic carbon and carbon monoxide (CO). Air quality was assessed in rooms where smoking occurred and in an adjacent room. Results Hookah and cigarette smoking impaired home air quality. The rooms in which hookahs were smoked showed the highest concentrations for all pollutants. CO was significantly greater in the rooms where hookahs were smoked than in the cigarette-smoking rooms and the non-smoking households (p<0.05). In addition, CO levels in the rooms adjacent to where hookah was smoked were 2.5-fold to 4-fold greater than those in the smoking and non-smoking rooms of the cigarette homes (p<0.05). PM2.5 levels were also elevated in hookah homes compared to cigarette and non-smoking homes, although not significantly different. Conclusions This study, the first of its kind, demonstrates potentially hazardous levels of home air pollution in rooms where hookahs are being smoked as well as in adjacent rooms. These levels were greater than those in cigarette smoking homes, raising concerns about potential negative health effects on all individuals living in homes where hookahs are smoked.

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“…The first published study on indoor air quality of hookah bars measured PM 2.5 in 10 hookah lounges in Oregon, USA 28. Those authors suggested that by comparison of the hookah smoke PM 2.5 to the USA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air quality in New York City hookah bars

et al. 2014

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Background Hookahs (e.g., water pipes) are increasingly being used in the U.S. and elsewhere. Despite the popularity of hookah bars, there is a paucity of research assessing the health effects of hookah smoke, and although New York City (NYC) bans indoor tobacco smoking, hookah lounges claim that they only use herbal products without tobacco and are exempt. This study investigated levels of multiple indices of air pollution in the indoor air of hookah bars in NYC. Methods Air samples were collected in 8 hookah bars in NYC during the summer and fall of 2013. Along with venue characteristics, real-time measurements of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and carbon monoxide (CO), and integrated samples of total gravimetric PM, elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and nicotine were collected in 1–2 hour sessions. Results Overall, levels of indoor air pollution increased with increasing numbers of active hookahs smoked. The mean (SD) real time PM2.5 level was 1179.9 (939.4) µg/m3, whereas the filter-based total PM mean was 691.3 (592.6) µg/m3. The mean real time BC level was 4.1 (2.3) µg/m3, OC was 237.9 (112.3) µg/m3, and CO was 32 (16) ppm. Airborne nicotine was present in all studied hookah bars (4.2 (1.5) µg/m3). Conclusions These results demonstrate that despite the ban on smoking tobacco products, at the very least, some NYC hookah bars are serving tobacco-based hookahs, and have elevated concentrations of indoor air pollutants and toxicants that may present significant health threat to visitors and employees. Therefore, there is an urgent need for better air quality monitoring in such establishments and policies to combat this emerging public health threat.

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Measuring Indoor Air Quality of Hookah Lounges

Cited by 33 publications

References 7 publications

Secondhand hookah smoke: an occupational hazard for hookah bar employees

Secondhand hookah smoke: an occupational hazard for hookah bar employees

Effects of hookah smoking on indoor air quality in homes

Air quality in New York City hookah bars

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