AAAR 33rd Annual Conference
October 20 - October 24, 2014
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract View
What is Effect of Water Pipe Height on Particulate Formation in Mainstream Waterpipe Smoke?
CINDY DEFOREST HAUSER, Jessica Annonio, Davidson College
Abstract Number: 341 Working Group: Health Related Aerosols
Abstract Hookah (also known as narghile, shisha, and hubble-bubble) is a form of tobacco use which began in India in the 15th century and has since spread to various parts of the Middle East, Mediterranean, and western countries including the United States. Tobacco is flavored with ma’ssel, a sweet tasting paste, placed in the head of the waterpipe, and heated with charcoal. As the user inhales, the air that is heated as it is pulled over the charcoal vaporizes volatile and semivolatile constituents in the tobacco. These compounds condense as they enter the cooler region of the pipe and form smoke. The smoke is pulled into the body of the waterpipe, bubbled through liquid contained in the bowl and inhaled. In this study, a standard smoking protocol of 63 puffs for 3 seconds each spaced at 30-second intervals was used. Particulate matter (PM) from mainstream waterpipe smoke is characterized by size (TSI OPS 3330), mass (TSI DustTrak 8533) and number concentration (TSI CPC 3007) for waterpipes with 22cm, 36cm, and 55cm pipe heights. The total mass of particulates per session generally increases with waterpipe height and an increase in flow rate. The fraction of the mass per session that is PM1 or smaller increases with the height of the pipe. As waterpipe height is increased, there is a decrease in the total number of particulates between 0.3um and 10um. The particle size distribution shifts towards decreasing particle diameter in general, and more heavily favors smaller particles with a taller waterpipe height. Initial results with the condensation particle counter suggest additional particulates below 0.3um.