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Research report: Charcoal type used for hookah smoking influences CO production.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Medford, MA; Gasier, HG; Hexdall, E; Moffat, AD; Freiberger, JJ; Moon, RE
Published in: Undersea Hyperb Med
2015

A hookah smoker who was treated for severe carbon monoxide poisoning with hyperbaric oxygen reported using a different type of charcoal prior to hospital admission, i.e., quick-light charcoal. This finding led to a study aimed at determining whether CO production differs between charcoals commonly used for hookah smoking, natural and quick-light. Our hypothesis was that quick-light charcoal produces significantly more CO than natural charcoal. A medium-sized hookah, activated charcoal filter, calibrated syringe, CO gas analyzer and infrared thermometer were assembled in series. A single 9-10 g briquette of either natural or quick-light charcoal was placed atop the hookah bowl and ignited. CO output (ppm) and temperature (degrees C) were measured in three-minute intervals over 90 minutes. The mean CO levels produced by quick-light charcoal over 90 minutes was significantly higher (3728 ± 2028) compared to natural charcoal (1730 ± 501 ppm, p = 0.016). However, the temperature was significantly greater when burning natural charcoal (292 ± 87) compared to quick-light charcoal (247 ± 92 degrees C, p = 0.013). The high levels of CO produced when using quick-light charcoals may be contributing to the increase in reported hospital admissions for severe CO poisoning.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Undersea Hyperb Med

ISSN

1066-2936

Publication Date

2015

Volume

42

Issue

4

Start / End Page

375 / 380

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Smoking
  • Research Report
  • Physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hot Temperature
  • Equipment Design
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Charcoal
 

Citation

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Medford, M. A., Gasier, H. G., Hexdall, E., Moffat, A. D., Freiberger, J. J., & Moon, R. E. (2015). Research report: Charcoal type used for hookah smoking influences CO production. Undersea Hyperb Med, 42(4), 375–380.
Medford, Marlon A., Heath G. Gasier, Eric Hexdall, Andrew D. Moffat, John J. Freiberger, and Richard E. Moon. “Research report: Charcoal type used for hookah smoking influences CO production.Undersea Hyperb Med 42, no. 4 (2015): 375–80.
Medford MA, Gasier HG, Hexdall E, Moffat AD, Freiberger JJ, Moon RE. Research report: Charcoal type used for hookah smoking influences CO production. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2015;42(4):375–80.
Medford, Marlon A., et al. “Research report: Charcoal type used for hookah smoking influences CO production.Undersea Hyperb Med, vol. 42, no. 4, 2015, pp. 375–80.
Medford MA, Gasier HG, Hexdall E, Moffat AD, Freiberger JJ, Moon RE. Research report: Charcoal type used for hookah smoking influences CO production. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2015;42(4):375–380.

Published In

Undersea Hyperb Med

ISSN

1066-2936

Publication Date

2015

Volume

42

Issue

4

Start / End Page

375 / 380

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Smoking
  • Research Report
  • Physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hot Temperature
  • Equipment Design
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Charcoal