Are Shisha Pens Safe When Compared To a Traditional Shisha?

Shisha pen also commonly known as shisha sticks, e-shisha, electronic  hookahs or e-hookahs are becoming one of the most popular trends now a days especially among  young adults. The main reason for its increasing popularity is due to the experience it has to offer its users that is the same as any traditional shisha but without the smelly smoke and harmful chemicals that a traditional shisha may have. It has been stated by many shisha manufacturers that these shisha pen pose lesser health risks when compared to a traditional shisha.

But before we can actually determine if a shisha pen is safer than a traditional shisha we would need to understand how a shisha pen works.

·         The workings of a shisha pen:

An electronic shisha pen is a device that is operated by a battery just like an electronic cigarette. It contains an atomizer which is heated up as soon as a smoker inhales from it. The heated atomizer then heats up the e-liquid that is in the shisha stick therefore changing it into vapours which are then inhaled by the user. A shisha pen user has a choice to either purchase a rechargeable shisha pen or a disposable one, both offering different variety of flavours for its users.

·         Contents of a shisha pen:

The main ingredient that is used in a shisha pen e-liquid is the flavouring of fruits which are mainly herbal, vegetable glycerine, propylene glycol and water. Both substances glycerine and propylene glycol are known to be non-toxic components and are also known to be found in many different products that are used every day.

·         Can shisha pensbe toxic?

Most shisha pens are known to not contain any kind of toxic compounds such as arsenic, lead, carbon monoxide and any other cancer creating chemical that are otherwise present in traditional shishas.

Due to these toxic compounds found in traditional shishas, smokers are more likely exposed to serious kinds of diseases such as heart diseases, respiratory illnesses and many different forms of cancers. Not only is it dangerous for the person smoking a traditional shisha but it is also dangerous for those around him, as these people might be breathing in all the toxic fumes coming out of the traditional shisha putting them equally in a health risk situation as well; the same concept of being a second hand smoker or a passive smoker.

An electronic shisha pen,on the other hand, does not emit any kind of dangerous smoke therefore producing neither a risk at all for the inhaler nor for the people around him.Plus, unlike a traditional shisha there is no nasty smell. Due to this there is no specific law that states that users of shisha pen cannot smoke shisha pen indoors or in public places.

However, it is still highly advisable that before purchasing a shisha pen one should always check the ingredients for any unhealthy chemicals or toxins that might have been added.

 

·         Are shisha pens safe?

Common sense dictates that inhaling vapours that are produced from ingredients which are non-toxic is a much better alternative when compared to inhaling smoke which may contain up to 4000 different harmful chemicals. However, at the same time it should be kept in mind that an electronic shisha pen is a very new product in the market therefore there have been no proper studies and tests carried out for any long term health issues.

Even though it has been acknowledge that in the long run shisha pen may be much cheaper compared to an electronic cigarettes (as electronic shishas provides its users with 600 plus puffs which is way higher than what an electronic cigarette may provide) they still are very new in the market therefore do not have a high demand when compared to electronic cigarettes.