BMC Public Health Volume 4

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Errors in the Scenario for the Narghile Epidemic in Syria

Kamal Chaouachi   (30 December 2007)  Lecturer, Tobaccology (Paris XI University)

I have had the occasion to show that the proposed scenario for the upsurge in narghile smoking is not correct and that the “proliferation of satellite channels and electronic media” has not played any role in this phenomenon [1]. Then, the colleagues of Rastam have had the occasion to respond in the form of an online comment so this debate may be considered as closed [1].

However, I wish to draw the attention to other errors to be found in this study. Rastam et al. claim that “water pipe smoke contains considerable amounts of the addictive substance nicotine” and cites two studies to support such a statement. In fact, the first one was based on a smoking machine and did deliver yields of the alkaloid which were far from being so important. For an almost one hour session, the figure was “of similar magnitude to what would be found in a single cigarette”[2].

The second reference cited by Rastam et al. is Shafagoj et al. [3]. However, I am afraid the corresponding study was absolutely not about nicotine but about carbon monoxide.

Dr Kamal T. Chaouachi

Researcher and consultant (Paris)

http://PublicationsList.org/kamal.chaouachi

Competing interests: none.

__________

References:

[1] Chaouachi K, 2006. A Critique of the WHO’s TobReg “Advisory Note” entitled: “Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Health Effects, Research Needs and Recommended Actions by Regulators” (2005). Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine. 5:17 http://www.jnrbm.com/content/5/1/17

[2] Shihadeh,A. Investigation of mainstream smoke aerosol of the argileh water pipe. Food and Chemical Toxicology 2003;41:143-152

[3] Shafagoj YA, Mohammed FI 2002b. Levels of maximum end-expiratory carbon monoxide and certain cardiovascular parameters following hubble-bubble smoking. Saudi Med J. 23(8):953-8.

Competing interests

NO COMPETING INTERESTS. I was involved from Spring to Autumn 2004 in the development of a no-carbon monoxide narghile prototype (harm reduction objective). I signed away all my past and future rights (total relinquishment, incl. patent rights) on June 15, 2005 (legally certified), before the potential commercial exploitation of the product. From that date, I have not had anymore any relation of any sort with the patent, even if the US patent (Young&Thompson/USA) may still mention my name on the internet. I have received only but a lump sum for my participation in this project. Furthermore, I declare that, in the course of my 10-year research work on this issue, I have never received funding neither from pharmaceutical companies nor from the tobacco industry.

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