A group of people sit around a table passing a hose among them, taking turns exhaling smoke rings as the sun sets. On the table stands the hookah, a Middle-Eastern water pipe designed for groups of people to smoke flavored tobacco, giving the smoke a distinct smell and taste…According to a Feb. 20, 2010, article by Dr. Richard D. Hunt on mayoclinic.com, hookah smoke contains many of the toxic compounds found in cigarette smoke, including tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals, and delivers about the same amount of nicotine as a cigarette. The tobacco is no less toxic in a hookah pipe and the water does not filter out any toxic ingredients in the tobacco smoke.

Kansas State Collegian, by Jacob Castanon, 02/10/2012

Tags: Dr. Richard D. Hunt, hookah, Mayoclinic.com