Spring Break
Hookah lounge soon to open in Corvallis
Despite health risks of hookah, popularity continues to increase for all age groups, hookah bars gain prominence nationwide
Michelle Suffin
Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: News
Students looking for a new place to socialize with friends may be in luck. Tony's Smoke Shop, located on Northwest Ninth Street, will be expanding into the largest hookah lounge in the state of Oregon within the next three to four weeks.
Currently there are between 200 to 300 hookah bars in the United States, with more popping up each day.
The last 10 years have seen a huge increase in the popularity of hookah bars and lounges, especially among college-aged men and women.
"I usually go to the hookah bars in Portland after 9 p.m.," said Alejandra Bornowski, a sophomore majoring in interior design.
"The employees are really nice, and it's always packed. It's a good thing they are making a bigger lounge in Corvallis."
Originating in the Middle East, water-based hookah pipes use indirect heat for smoking "shisha," a type of flavored tobacco that comes in many flavors, including grape, kiwi and mango.
Smoke passes through the body of the hookah pipe, where it is filtered and cooled before being inhaled.
A typical hookah session can last anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes and involve several people.
Although the popularity of hookah lounges is continuing to increase, so are some concerns about the long- and short-term effects of shisha tobacco.
"The smoke from a hookah pipe contains the same carcinogens you would find in cigarette smoke," said Phillip Histand, interim director of Student Health Services.
"One of the main concerns is that people spend a longer time using a hookah pipe than they would using a cigarette, typically only five to ten minutes. The amount of smoke you inhale in that amount of time is the equivalent of smoking 100 cigarettes."
According to a study conducted by Thomas Eissenberg, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, a 45-minute session of hookah-smoking delivers 36 times more tar, 15 times more carbon monoxide and 70 percent more nicotine than a single cigarette.
Currently there are between 200 to 300 hookah bars in the United States, with more popping up each day.
The last 10 years have seen a huge increase in the popularity of hookah bars and lounges, especially among college-aged men and women.
"I usually go to the hookah bars in Portland after 9 p.m.," said Alejandra Bornowski, a sophomore majoring in interior design.
"The employees are really nice, and it's always packed. It's a good thing they are making a bigger lounge in Corvallis."
Originating in the Middle East, water-based hookah pipes use indirect heat for smoking "shisha," a type of flavored tobacco that comes in many flavors, including grape, kiwi and mango.
Smoke passes through the body of the hookah pipe, where it is filtered and cooled before being inhaled.
A typical hookah session can last anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes and involve several people.
Although the popularity of hookah lounges is continuing to increase, so are some concerns about the long- and short-term effects of shisha tobacco.
"The smoke from a hookah pipe contains the same carcinogens you would find in cigarette smoke," said Phillip Histand, interim director of Student Health Services.
"One of the main concerns is that people spend a longer time using a hookah pipe than they would using a cigarette, typically only five to ten minutes. The amount of smoke you inhale in that amount of time is the equivalent of smoking 100 cigarettes."
According to a study conducted by Thomas Eissenberg, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, a 45-minute session of hookah-smoking delivers 36 times more tar, 15 times more carbon monoxide and 70 percent more nicotine than a single cigarette.
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