Cellular toxicity has been demonstrated to directly correlate with cigarette smoking resulting from the potentially hazardous chemical components found in the smoke. Tobacco smoke is known to contain more than 7000 chemical compounds as well as heavy metals, many of which are known to be toxic and cause cancer. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene and 5-methylchrysene have been found in cigarette tobacco smoke. A number of toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium and lead have been reported as well. However, very little empirical research has been done to identify the potentially hazardous chemicals present in hookah smoke and how these chemicals relate to cellular toxicity.<br/>Hookah consumption includes several components not found in cigarette consumption that may influence the degree of toxicity correlating to hookah smoke. Hookah tobacco consists of a number of added ingredients such as molasses, glycerin, honey, flavorings etc. These additives make up 50% or more of the total mass of the tobacco mixture. Hookah smoking is facilitated through an apparatus and is thereby not consumed in a similar manner to a cigarette. Briefly, the hookah is smoked by igniting the hookah tobacco formulation with smoldering charcoal then drawing the smoke through a “water filter” and inhaling through a hose attached to the water chamber. As a result, the inhaled smoke is subject to the ignited charcoal, the partially pyrolyzed hookah tobacco, the apparatus and the water chamber, all of which may alter the original smoke composition.<br/>Acute cellular toxicity and the potentially hazardous chemical components (PAHs and metals) associated with hookah smoke were evaluated in this study as a first step towards understanding the hazards related to hookah smoking and how it compares with cigarettes. Acute toxicity was tested using human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells) introduced to hookah smoke extract (HSE) generated by three heat sources (1 electronic and 2 charcoal). Cells were exposed to 10%, 20% and 30% HSE and a cell viability study was performed at 24 and 48 hours. The HSE media was analyzed for toxic elements using microwave digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection and a PAH screen was performed by headspace SPME gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis.

Which is worse? Hookah consumption or cigarette smoking, a preliminary study on toxicity

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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