title: [Waterpipe smoking among adolescents in Silesia region of Poland].
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Waterpipe has been used for many centuries in Asia and Africa regions to smoke tobacco leaves. In recent years it has been gaining popularity also among adolescents and youths in Poland.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to examine waterpipe smoking prevalence among adolescents living in Silesia region of Poland. We investigated if waterpipe is used as alternative way to smoke tobacco and awareness among adolescents about heath risk of waterpipe smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 769 students of high schools located in Silesia region of Poland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of surveyed students was 16.5 years, and 52.5% were females. Our results showed that prevalence of waterpipe was higher than cigarette smoking (46.7% vs. 34.6%). Prevalence of waterpipe smoking among girls was almost the same as among boys. Most of the surveyed students used waterpipe as an alternative tool to smoke tobacco.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of waterpipe smoking among Polish adolescents is very high. There is an urgent need for education about health risks of waterpipe use in Poland.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Chemii Ogólnej i Nieorganicznej, Wydział Farmaceutyczny z Oddziałem Medycyny Laboratoryjnej, Slaski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Sosnowiec.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.forename: Wioleta
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zielińska-Danch
authors.forename: Maciej Ł
authors.initials: MŁ
authors.lastname: Goniewicz
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koszowski
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czogała
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sobczak
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058545:Inhalant Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*