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A comparative study of systemic carcinogen exposure in waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers and non-smokers
  1. Radwan Al Ali1,
  2. Samer Rastam1,
  3. Iman Ibrahim1,
  4. Asma Bazzi2,
  5. Sanaa Fayad2,
  6. Alan L Shihadeh3,
  7. Ghazi S Zaatari2,
  8. Wasim Maziak1,4
  1. 1Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria Arab Republic
  2. 2Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
  3. 3Department of Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
  4. 4Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Wasim Maziak, Department of Epidemiology, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St Miami, FL 33139, USA; wmaziak{at}fiu.edu

Abstract

Background In the past decade, waterpipe smoking—also known as hookah, shisha, narghileh—has increased among youth. The scarcity of rigorous studies linking waterpipe smoking to smoking-related diseases has hindered policy and regulatory efforts to confront the waterpipe epidemic. This study compares systemic carcinogen exposure between independent groups of exclusive waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers and non-smokers.

Methods This study was conducted at the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS) in Aleppo, Syria, between 2010 and 2011. First morning urinary samples were collected from three groups of subjects; exclusive daily waterpipe smokers (n=24), exclusive daily cigarette smokers (n=23), and non-smokers (n=28). These samples were analysed for carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1- butanol (NNAL) using liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Results Our results show that waterpipe smokers are exposed to about 5–10 times greater NNAL than non-smokers. Mean (95% CI) free and total NNAL was 0.7 (0.3 to 1. 4) and 3.9 (1.6 to 9.5) pg/mL urine for non-smokers, 8.4 (4.8 to 14.8) and 33.0 (21.6 to 50.6) pg/mL urine for waterpipe smokers, and 10.7 (5.0 to 22.6) and 46.8 (27.6 to 79.3) pg/mL urine for cigarette smokers (p<0.001 for all comparisons). Daily waterpipe smokers were less exposed to NNAL than daily cigarette smokers, although the difference did not reach statistical significance for all measurements.

Conclusions These results provide the clearest indication to date about systemic exposure to harmful carcinogens associated with long-term waterpipe smoking. Such evidence can support policy and regulatory efforts designed to confront the emerging global waterpipe epidemic, as well as drive interventions aimed at increasing the public awareness about the cancer risk associated with waterpipe smoking.

  • Carcinogens
  • Prevention
  • Non-cigarette tobacco products

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