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Examining of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Hookah Smokers

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Abstract

Hookah smoking has been spreading around the world, especially among young adults. The current study aimed to investigate the concentration of heavy metals and elements and clinical symptoms in hookah users in comparison with non-users. To the best of our knowledge, the present study represents the first scientific contribution indicating levels of several heavy metals and elements in urine and blood in hookah users and non-users as well as evaluating clinical symptoms. This research was implemented in Iran among 100 males divided into two groups (50/group): control and hookah users. Heavy metal contamination (lead, cadmium, arsenic, thallium, zinc, and copper) in blood and urine samples was assayed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Duration of hookah use was 7.06 ± 4.57 years. The mean ± SD of lead, arsenic, and thallium concentrations was 3.77 ± 2.22, 8.50 ± 4.34, and 4.22 ± 2.69 μg/L. The mean levels of blood for lead, arsenic, and urinary thallium in hookah users are significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). The most frequent clinical symptoms in hookah smokers were constipation and fatigue. Findings from this study might guide the development of policies to regulate hookah smoking and prevent adverse health effects associated with hookah smoking.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available because the intellectual property is owned by the funding body. They may be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request containing the approval from the associated funding body.

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Acknowledgements

This study was the thesis on general practitioner (Masoome Irani) and was supported by a grant from the Vice-chancellor for Research, KAUMS, Iran (99195). We are thankful to all the subjects who participated in this project. The authors wish to thank the management and all technicians of the Toxicology Laboratory of Imam Reza Hospital for their cooperation to conduct this research and all the subjects for participating in this research project.

Funding

The research grant was provided by the Research Deputy of Kashan University of Medical Sciences (KAUMS/99195).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Addiction Studies, School of Medical, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Amir Ghaderi

  2. Clinical Research Development Unit-Matini/Kargarnejad Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Amir Ghaderi

  3. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Amir Hossein Khoshakhlagh

  4. Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Masoome Irani, Azam Ghaseminezhad, Bahador Nemati & Heshmatollah Moradpour Ghalerashidi

  5. Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    Prem Gautam

  6. Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, Department of Environment Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Nezam Mirzaei

  7. Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Hamid Reza Banafshe

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  1. Amir Ghaderi
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Contributions

AGh, AHKh, MI, AGh, PG, NM, HRB, BN, and HMGh contributed in conception, design, statistical analysis, and drafting of the manuscript. All authors approved the final version for submission. AHKh supervised the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amir Hossein Khoshakhlagh.

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Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

At the beginning of the session, the purpose of the study was explained to the participants, and they were assured about the anonymity and confidentiality of their responses. All participants gave their signed written informed consent letters. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kashan University of Medical Sciences approval no. “IR.KAUMS.MEDNT.REC.1399.197.”

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Written informed consent was obtained from all of the subjects.

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Ghaderi, A., Khoshakhlagh, A.H., Irani, M. et al. Examining of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Hookah Smokers. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 3185–3192 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03422-0

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