title: How popular is waterpipe tobacco smoking? Findings from internet search queries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS), a traditional tobacco consumption practice in the Middle East, is gaining popularity worldwide. Estimates of population-level interest in WTS over time are not documented. We assessed the popularity of WTS using World Wide Web search query results across four English-speaking countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed trends in Google search queries related to WTS, comparing these trends with those for electronic cigarettes between 2004 and 2013 in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. Weekly search volumes were reported as percentages relative to the week with the highest volume of searches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Web-based searches for WTS have increased steadily since 2004 in all four countries. Search volume for WTS was higher than for e-cigarettes in three of the four nations, with the highest volume in the USA. Online searches were primarily targeted at WTS products for home use, followed by searches for WTS cafés/lounges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online demand for information on WTS-related products and venues is large and increasing. Given the rise in WTS popularity, increasing evidence of exposure-related harms, and relatively lax government regulation, WTS is a serious public health concern and could reach epidemic levels in Western societies.
authors: Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Ramzi G
authors: RG
authors: Salloum
authors: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Amira
authors: A
authors: Osman
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria.
authors: Wasim
authors: W
authors: Maziak
authors: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors: James F
authors: JF
authors: Thrasher
mesh_terms: D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014026:Nicotiana
keywords: Global health; Non-cigarette tobacco products; Surveillance and monitoring