AAAR 34th Annual Conference
October 12 - October 16, 2015
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Impact of Height and Filtration Media on Size Distribution of Inhalable Fraction of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoke Using a TSI NanoScan
CINDY DEFOREST HAUSER, Kate Cerully, Davidson College
Abstract Number: 368 Working Group: Health Related Aerosols
Abstract Hookah or waterpipe is increasing in popularity among college students in the US. Waterpipe Tobacco Smoke (WTS) is perceived to be less harmful than cigarette smoke as it passes through a filtration media prior to inhalation by the user. Previous studies have shown that relative to cigarettes, the waterpipe is associated with 4.7 times the number of puffs and 48.6 times the amount of smoke. First pass studies analyzing mainstream hookah smoke found significant concentrations of ultrafine particles, nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. More recent studies have focused on more complex compound classes including primary aromatic amines, furanic compounds and humectants. Fewer studies have focused on the physical characteristics of the particulate component. There are many variables that may play a role in the physical and chemical characteristics of the particulate component of WTS including the type of charcoal and shisha, the height of the waterpipe, the amount and type of filtration liquid in the bowl and the material and length of hose used to inhale the smoke. Here we present the use of a TSI NanoScan SMPS Nanoparticle Sizer to explore the size and number of particles between 10 and 420 nm in WTS as a function of some of the aforementioned variables. These physical characteristics of the particulate component of WTS are important in evaluating the potential health hazards to water pipe users.