Popular e-shishas pose a health hazard

Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) warn of e-shishas

04/17/2014

Shisha smoking is popular among teenagers. This also applies to the electronic version of e-shishas, ​​in which so-called liquids are vaporized. As with the e-cigarette, no smoke is inhaled here, so that a lower health risk than normal water pipes can be assumed. However, according to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), the e-shishas should by no means be downplayed.

In a press release at the beginning of the year, the director of the BZgA, Prof. Dr. med. Elisabeth Pott that the e-shisha "similar to e-cigarettes possible health hazards regarding the ingredients used" exist. Liquids, for example, "often contain propylene glycol, which can lead to allergic reactions and respiratory irritation, among other things." The Deutsche Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) in Heidelberg explained that the young people "with the vapor of the products not only the respiratory irritant ground substance Propylene glycol, but also flavorings, including contact allergens such as menthol or vanillin "inhale. Some of the steam would "also contain carcinogenic substances such as formaldehyde, nickel or chromium", continues the DKFZ. The long-term consequences of frequent repeated inhalation of this chemical mixture are unknown, according to the BZgA. Extensive scientific information on the health risks of e-shishas is not available to date.

Ban e-hookahs in schools
In the e-hookahs, liquid is evaporated with the help of a filament, which is available in a wide variety of flavors. The BZgA expressed "significant concern over the Liquids, which are offered in different sweet flavors such as mango, chocolate or bubble gum and thus appear to be particularly attractive for children and adolescents." In this way, they could "contribute to the trivialization and the inhibition threshold for use may reduce nicotine and tobacco-containing products such as water pipes or cigarettes, "fears the Federal Center for Health Education. Since most federal states do not yet regulate the law "where electronic inhalation products such as e-cigarettes and e-shishas may be used", "it remains unclear whether they may be used in places such as schools where smoking is prohibited or not, "reports the DKFZ. So teachers would have more discussions with students who use e-hookah in school. The German Cancer Research Center called for electronic inhalation products to be treated like conventional cigarettes. Schools should exercise their home rights and ban e-shishas.

Efforts of addiction prevention are undermined
The BZgA and the DKFZ also critically assess that liquids are also vaporized with nicotine in e-shishas. The imitation of smoking and the possibly taking place of nicotine would run the risk "that adolescents are brought closer to smoking and eventually switch to conventional cigarettes", so the concern of the DKFZ. This is also about the credibility of addiction prevention. The BZgA director explained that "as long as no independent analysis of the ingredients and the inhaled vapors proves the health safety of the products - even with regard to long-term use - the BZgA advise against consuming e-shishas". In particular, the products would not belong in the hands of children and adolescents. (Fp)