Health 1050

Jessica M Juston

Article Assignment #5

The authors aimed to discuss the primary question throughout the article on whether or not steam

stone fluids, an alternative tobacco product, were harmful to the human body. However, there is an

insignificant amount of research completed for the steam stone, leaving users clueless about what they

are putting into their bodies.

The hookah has been used for centuries as a way of smoking tobacco as well as other substances. It was

believed that because the smoke passed through water, it filtered all the harmful chemicals making it

the safest way to smoke tobacco. There have been millions of case studies based on cigarettes and the

addictive and harmful outcomes, yet there has been minimal research on the dangers of hookah

smoking. Toxic metals such as Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb have been found in hookah tobacco, providing

the damage to the health of its users. Based on these factors, companies called Shisha Steam Stones

have been attempting to develop tobacco smoking alternatives for hookahs and electronic cigarettes,

otherwise known as a potentially reduced exposure product (PREPs). The pebbles are soaked in different

substances such as glycerin or honey or molasses and heated in the hookah's head instead of tobacco to

create a vapor. Even though there are no known health risks to inhaling the vapor, there is still the

potential to inhale charcoal, toxic metals, carbon monoxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

(PAHs).

The study included two brands of steam stone with five different flavors per brand; the first brand was

Mya Rocks Steam Stones, and the second was Shaizo Shisha Steam Stones. The study included an

extraction procedure that included removing the top layer and fluid covering the steam stones.

Following the extraction procedure, another trial was formed. However, the experts believed that there

would be no harmful substances found in the flavoring. They had to test it for toxic metals as well.

However, as previously believed, the toxic metals came from the steam stones and not the flavoring.
Health 1050
Jessica M Juston

Another experiment followed so we could learn exactly how much toxic metals one would inhale during

a thirty-minute hookah smoking session. The experts found that "Males between the ages of 18-30 with

an average weight of 76 kg has an inhalation rate between 7.2 and 8.7 L/min (when resting [lying] and

sedentary [sitting or standing], respectively). A female between the ages of 18-30 with an average

weight of 62 kg has an inhalation rate between 5.5 and 6.7 L/min (when resting [lying] and sedentary

[sitting or standing], respectively)".

The complete analysis was done three times to ensure accuracy. The flavoring showed no difference

based on the brand. However, since all the stones looked very different, there were uncertainties

regarding the accuracy of the results for the stones' toxic metals. It was determined that most of the

found toxic metals came from the charcoal; the experts determined that there were 26 metal isotopes

found in the mainstream smoke. The experts compared the data found with an electronic charcoal

source to determine which would limit exposure to the toxic metals. It has been conclusive that the

metals do not consistently travel through the filters, and the amount of metal traces found varies

depending on the heat source, as well as the condition of the filter.

The experts concluded that there was no significant difference between the number of toxic metals

found in either of the companies under the trail. However, the amount could be reduced by using an

electronic charcoal source instead. Even though it has been said that steam stones are safer alternatives

to tobacco smoke, the number of toxic chemicals being inhaled into the lungs could become very

harmful.

Given the data and analysis, I believe that even though the experts found there to be a danger in hookah

smoking, the sample size was not large enough for the experiment's seriousness. They should have

taken more samples from different companies who had come out with the steam stones to determine

which company would be safest for users. The study of only ten products from two companies is not a

significant enough amount of research to persuade people of the dangers of hookah smoking and the
Health 1050
Jessica M Juston

toxic metals found. Although the researchers were comprehensive with the small sample size they had,

it is still not enough. I believe that the number of toxic metals consumed will vary depending on gender,

as does everything else. However, that is not my way of mentioning that males should be able to use

hookahs, and women should not. If people insist on putting toxic metals into their system and putting

their health at risk, there is a serious deeper issue.

Citation

Clutterbuck, Amberlie, et al. “Metal Analysis for Non-Tobacco Smoking Alternatives: Steam
Stone Fluids and Smoke.” Microchemical Journal, Elsevier, 6 May 2015,
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0026265X15000806.