Health warning labelling practices on narghile (shisha, hookah) waterpipe tobacco products and related accessories.
BACKGROUND
Waterpipe tobacco smoking prevalence is increasing around the globe despite current evidence that smoke emissions are toxic and contain carcinogenic compounds.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate current health warning labelling practices on waterpipe tobacco products and related accessories.


METHODS
All waterpipe tobacco products, as well as waterpipe accessories, were purchased from Lebanon and a convenience sample was obtained from Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Canada, Germany and South Africa.


RESULTS
Of the total number of waterpipe tobacco products collected from Lebanon, the majority had textual health warning labels covering on average only 3.5% of total surface area of the package. Misleading descriptors were commonplace on waterpipe tobacco packages and related accessories.


CONCLUSIONS
There are no WHO FCTC compliant waterpipe-specific health warning labels on waterpipe tobacco products and related accessories. Introducing health warnings on waterpipe tobacco products and accessories will probably have worldwide public health benefits.
Nakkash
Rima
R
Health Behavior and Education Department, Center for Research on Population and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, PO, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon. rima.nakkash@aub.edu.lb
Khalil
Joanna
J
D014943:Global Health; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011356:Product Labeling; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000074606:Smoking Prevention