Health Risk Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals in Charcoal Used for Water Pipe Tobacco

Abstract

The consumption of water pipe tobacco particularly among young females has become increasingly prevalent nowadays. Thus, this study is aimed at investigating the concentration of heavy metals in coal used for water pipe tobacco and the health risk assessment of the metals. A commercially available shisha coal sample was purchased from a local retail shop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The sample was labelled, securely packaged in a sterile polyethylene bag and transported to the laboratory for heavy metal analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The result of the heavy metals shows the presence of Chromium (0.089 ppm), Lead (0.014 ppm), Cadmium (0.201 ppm) and mercury (0.119 ppm). The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) levels of heavy metals in the shisha coal sample were found below the EPA/WHO/EFSA thresholds. Also, the THQ values for the shisha coal sample were all below the benchmark of 1, and the observed HI were generally less than 1 giving a total of 0.46148. The study concludes that the use of water pipe tobacco does not pose a significant non-carcinogenic health risk from these heavy metals to consumers. However, since these metals can pose threat even at low concentration, the rate of consumption of water pipe tobacco should be regulated.