What Researchers Did
Researchers compared carbon monoxide (CO) production from natural versus quick-light charcoals commonly used for hookah smoking in a laboratory setting.
What They Found
They found that quick-light charcoal produced significantly higher mean CO levels (3728 ± 2028 ppm) over 90 minutes compared to natural charcoal (1730 ± 501 ppm, p = 0.016). Conversely, natural charcoal burned at a significantly higher temperature (292 ± 87 °C) than quick-light charcoal (247 ± 92 °C, p = 0.013).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients who use hookahs should be aware that quick-light charcoal may significantly increase their risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Choosing natural charcoal might reduce this risk, although both types produce high levels of CO.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada nor involved Canadian participants or institutions.
Study Limitations
The study was conducted in a laboratory setting using a single hookah model, which may not fully reflect real-world smoking conditions.