‘It’s a lie’- Dr Serebour dismisses claims shisha is less harmful because smoke passes through water

Former Korle Bu Cardio Centre Director, Dr Lawrence Serebour, has refuted claims that shisha smoking is less harmful than cigarette smoking due to the smoke passing through water before inhalation. He categorically dismissed this notion as false, emphasizing that water in shisha pipes does not eliminate harmful chemicals from the smoke.

During a discussion on "Shisha: Status Symbol or Slow Poison" on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Dr Serebour was questioned about the potential of water to make shisha smoking less harmful. He firmly stated, "It’s a lie." He further explained that carbon monoxide inhaled from shisha smoking is significantly higher than that from cigarette smoking.

The charcoal used to heat the tobacco in shisha pipes produces carbon monoxide, which can adversely affect the heart, lungs, and the blood's ability to transport oxygen. Dr Serebour also debunked the belief that water acts as a filter for the dangerous substances in shisha smoke, asserting that it does not filter out the harmful chemicals.

He clarified that the water only cools down the smoke, allowing for increased inhalation, not filtering out harmful substances. He further highlighted the danger of shisha smoking, noting that a person could be exposed to a smoke amount equivalent to 100 to 200 cigarettes during an hour-long shisha session. This exposure exposes users to over 7,000 harmful chemicals, about 70 of which are carcinogenic, leading Dr Serebour to describe shisha smoking as a form of slow-acting suicide.

He warned that shisha smoking can affect multiple organs, exposing users to serious health complications, including cancer, caused by substances such as nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. He also cautioned about the addictive potential of nicotine in tobacco products, regardless of the consumption method.