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Hookah smoke is higher levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide, compared to cigarettes (University of Pittsburgh)

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On January 11, 2016, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine released a study by lead researcher Dr. Brian Primack, M.D., Ph.d that shows people who smoke hookah inhale inhale 125 times the smoke, 25 times the tar, 2.5 times the nicotine and 10 times the carbon monoxide, as compared to a single cigarette. 

The study is entitled Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of inhaled Toxicants from Waterpipe and Cigarette Smoking and published in the January 2016 issue of the journal of Public Health Reports. 

Read the University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences release.

The study analyzed previously published data from 17 studies.  The authors concluded that since may waterpipe users are unaware of these high levels of toxicants, the results of this study can be valuable for educational and media-based interventioned to reduce waterpipe smoking.