title: Compartmental analysis of metals in waterpipe smoking technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of waterpipe tobacco smokers has been increasing worldwide. Smokers can be exposed to a number of toxicants, some of which are metals. The aim of this study is to quantitatively determine if the water filtration stage of the waterpipe smoking process successfully decreases exposure to Bi, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, and U.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four samples of commercially available tobacco (Moassel) were compared in terms of the total amount of metal contained within the fresh tobacco sample and the amount of metal distributed into each compartment of the waterpipe after a smoking session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all metals analysed, the concentration of metal 'filtered' out during the water bubbling stage is around 3% (±1%) of the total metal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that this small fraction would not protect the user against exposure to the majority of the potentially toxic metals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Applied Medical Sciences, German Jordanian University, P.O. Box 35247, Amman, 11180, Jordan. akeel.alkazwini@gju.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Akeel T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Al-Kazwini
authors.affiliation: Scientific Research Centre, Applied Science Sector, Royal Scientific Society, Amman, Jordan. adi.said@rss.jo.
authors.forename: Adi J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Applied Medical Sciences, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan. s.sdepanian@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sdepanian
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D012907:Smoking; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014867:Water