SMOKING a hubbly bubbly or tobacco water pipe for one hour is as harmful as smoking
up to 200 cigarettes, health experts have warned.

The growing popularity of smoking flavoured tobacco in water pipes, particularly
by young people, has prompted the NSW Government to issue its first health warning
urging people to quit.

Last week former health minister Reba Meagher said there was a widespread, incorrect
belief that smoking water-pipe tobacco, also known as shisha, hookah and argileh, was
not as harmful as smoking cigarettes.

"In fact, a one-hour session smoking a water pipe is the equivalent of smoking between
100 and 200 cigarettes," she said. Ms Meagher said smoking water-pipe tobacco had

become increasingly popular in Australia over the past 20 years, particularly among

Middle Eastern youth and university students.

The World Health Organisation released a report in 2005 stating concern at its rising
use in Europe and the US.

Chris Rissel, Health Promotion director at Sydney South West Area Health Service, said
water-pipe smoke contained significant amounts of nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar,
and higher levels of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead compared with cigarettes.
"We're increasingly seeing young people use it and the feedback we've got is people are
not aware it's as bad if not worse than regular tobacco smoking," he said.
But members of the Arabic-speaking community say the practice is a centuries-old
cultural tradition they plan on continuing, despite the health risks.
A survey of Arabic speakers in south-west Sydney published in April found 11.4 per cent
smoked shisha.

Cafes and restaurants in Lakemba and Bankstown last week were filled with men and

women smoking elaborate argilehs with fruit-flavoured tobacco.
Friends Omar el Darwich, 20, Ahmed Nass, 21, and Rami Abed, 20, said that, just as
alcohol was used socially, smoking argilehs was a popular way to spend time with friends.

"Alcohol's not good for you, but people drink it. Us Muslims, we don't drink alcohol, but
we smoke argileh," Mr el Darwich said. Mr Nass said he was aware water-pipe tobacco

was more harmful than cigarettes but said he smoked it only about once a month.

"It's mainly when all the mates gather round at a nice cafe or a game of cards. It's an
Arabian thing," he said. Dr Rissel said pipe sharing could lead to the spread of infectious
diseases including herpes, tuberculosis and hepatitis, while children could be harmed by
second-hand smoke.