2024 Volume 19 Issue 1 Pages 11-18
Objective: To assess potential health damage from exposure to active and passive waterpipe smoking.
Methods: Two participants smoked waterpipe cigarettes for 30 minutes, and the exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations of the participants, as well as those of two non-smokers in the room, were measured before and after exposure to waterpipe smoking. Furthermore, the concentration of particles (PM2.5) and gas components in the air were measured.
Results: After active smoking, exhaled CO concentrations of the two participants increased from 2 ppm to 7 ppm and from 9 ppm to 21 ppm, respectively. After passive smoking, the exhaled CO concentrations of nonsmokers increased from 1 ppm to 6 ppm and 1 ppm to 8 ppm, respectively. The PM2.5 concentration in the room was 14.7 ± 7.5 μg/m3 before smoking and gradually increased over time. Moreover, the concentration during smoking reached 323.2 ± 190.4 μg/m3, exceeding the standard value set by the Ministry of Environment. Both particle and gas components showed significant elevation compared to control values (p<0.001, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Exposure to active and passive waterpipe smoking may be harmful to the body.
