A typical one-hour water-pipe smoking session exposes the user to 100-200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette, the Centre for Health Protection says. Photo: Shutterstock
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https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3210895/warning-over-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-after-hong-kong-pair-overcome-fumes-hookah Health & Environment
Warning over carbon monoxide poisoning after Hong Kong pair overcome by fumes from hookah
- Centre for Health Protection says victims, aged 23 and 21, were taken to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong
- They told medics they lost consciousness after visiting place where people had smoked hookahs
Hookah bars have proved popular in Hong Kong, but poor ventilation can pose a risk to patrons, health authorities warn. Photo: Shutterstock
Health authorities have warned the public of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning after a man and a woman fell unconscious where people were smoking hookahs.
The Centre for Health Protection on Monday night said the two victims, aged 23 and 21, were taken to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong on Sunday.
They were in stable condition and later transferred to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan before being discharged.
The pair told medics they lost consciousness after visiting a venue where people had smoked hookahs, a type of water-pipe used for burning a form of tobacco.
A preliminary investigation by the centre found that charcoal fuel was used for heating the tobacco and the premises had its door and windows shut, with the air conditioning turned on.
The centre reminded the public that carbon monoxide was a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas and a by-product from incomplete combustion of any carbon-based fuel. Fuel-burning appliances should be used properly and in a well-ventilated area, it said.
With deep breaths and long smoking sessions, water-pipe users would often inhale more toxins than cigarette smokers, it added.
“A typical one-hour water-pipe smoking session exposes the user to 100-200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette,” the centre said, urging people not to use the apparatus.
One woman who only occasionally used hookahs said she was shocked to hear the news and would be more cautious about using them in the future.
The teacher in her forties, who first tried water-pipes 20 years ago, said she would only use them in the open area of a bar or on the balcony of a flat. She spent anywhere from HK$400 (US$51) to HK$800 for a session, depending on the quality of the tobacco, known as shisha.
“I will be more careful from now on,” she said. “It’s just like burning charcoal during a barbecue indoors. It should be done in well-ventilated areas.”
Dr Ludwig Tsoi Chun-hing, an emergency medicine specialist, said heat used to smoke shisha would be high enough to turn carbon dioxide in a closed room into carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide poisoning could lead to confusion and in high enough concentrations could even result in death, he warned.