Egypt tries to end trendy hookah use

CAIRO: A hookah set complete with apple-flavoured tobacco has become compulsory hand luggage for many tourists returning from a holiday in Egypt.

But as trendy hookah lounges are flourishing from Europe to California, the ‘hubbly bubbly’ addiction is also gaining ground in the homeland of shisha-smoking and causing growing concern among health officials.

“Because it goes through the water before you inhale, I think it’s better for your health than cigarettes,” said a Dutch tourist, drawing on a waterpipe in Cairo’s Khan al-Khalili bazaar.

Health experts beg to differ. They argue that the waterpipe makes for a macabre souvenir as they try to shatter the harmless image of a habit spreading fast.

“It’s not just a trend in the West, it’s becoming more popular in the region too,” said Dr Fatima el-Awa of World Health Organisation’s regional office.

“One hour with a shisha is equal to 100-200 cigarettes,” Awa said. She added that for a similar nicotine intake a shisha exposes users to more smoke than cigarettes.

A WHO study found that the regular waterpipe smoker is exposed to larger amounts of nicotine, carbon monoxide and some other toxins than the typical cigarette smoker.

It points out that the force needed to pull the air through the hose allows the smoke to reach much deeper into the lungs.

An Egyptian study headed by former health minister Awad Tageddin also established that waterpipes were largely responsible for reintroducing tuberculosis in the country.

Egypt is one of the countries in the world that is the most affected by tobacco use. “An average of 2.5 per cent of household income is spent on tobacco in Egypt, which is more than on health and leisure,” said Awa.