Potential Health Risks of Hookah Smoking for Adolescents and Young Adults

Presents rates of hookah use among adolescents and young adults, as well as the health risks of smoking hookah. Key messages of this brief include: 1) Hookah smoking is on the rise, while health effects are not fully understood; 2) Hookah smoking can produce carcinogens and other chemicals associated with ill health at levels similar to or higher than cigarette smoking; and 3) Toxicologists, who study the adverse effects of chemicals, are concerned about the public perception that hookah smoking is a safer alternative to other forms of tobacco use.