‘Contrary To Popular Beliefs, Bong Smoking Is Not Safe,’ Study Says
Topline
Opposite to common opinion, hashish smoke from a bong is a possible well being hazard for non-smokers, based on peer reviewed research revealed Wednesday in JAMA Community Open, as Congress prepares to vote this week on laws that will decriminalize the drug.
Secondhand bong smoke is probably going not protected, a examine suggests.
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Key Info
Dwelling hashish bong smoking “considerably elevated” ranges of effective particulate matter—pollution numerous scientific research have linked to points together with most cancers, respiration issues and coronary heart assaults—in comparison with background ranges, based on researchers from the College of California, Berkeley.
The researchers measured the focus of effective particulate matter the place a nonsmoker would possibly sit in a family lounge throughout a social hashish smoking session eight occasions.
On six events, the degrees of effective particulate matter elevated 100-fold to 1,000-fold from background ranges, recording jumps of greater than 20-fold from already “excessive background” ranges for the remaining two.
After simply quarter-hour of smoking, the typical ranges of the pollutant had been greater than twice the brink deemed hazardous by the Environmental Safety Company, the researchers mentioned, and a single smoking session a day would generate a mean focus roughly 5 occasions greater than within the common cigarette-smoking house.
The focus of effective particulate matter decayed slowly after smoking stopped, the researchers discovered, with charges nonetheless greater than 10 occasions background ranges 12 hours afterwards.
The researchers mentioned the examine means that, “opposite to common beliefs, bong smoking is just not protected,” and the apply truly generates concentrations of effective particulate matter 4 occasions better than cigarette or tobacco hookah smoking.
Key Background
A long time of scientific analysis has highlighted the appreciable dangers of secondhand tobacco smoke, which has been conclusively linked to points together with most cancers, a litany of respiratory and cardiovascular issues, and preterm beginning. Many international locations around the globe have banned tobacco smoking indoors to handle these considerations. The risks of secondhand hashish smoke, whereas identified to comprise poisonous chemical substances, pollution and cancer-causing substances, has obtained a lot much less consideration as a result of drug’s authorized standing, although the Berkeley researchers say considerations from tobacco have translated to hashish smoke (although practically a fifth of U.S. adults believe secondhand hashish smoke to be protected for adults and round 8% for youngsters, analysis has discovered). This concern has not translated to bong smoking, they observe, and the analysis is the primary to quantify ranges of secondhand hashish smoke within the house.
What To Watch For
Legalization. Whereas marijuana continues to be unlawful underneath federal regulation, many states have legalized it for medical or leisure functions and polls counsel a majority of Individuals assist legalization. The Home of Representatives is predicted to vote on a invoice to decriminalize hashish this week. The invoice is extensively anticipated to move—the Home handed an identical invoice in 2020—although it faces an uphill battle within the Senate and isn’t anticipated to be signed into regulation.
Additional Studying
Hashish Shares Are Surging Forward Of Home Vote On Marijuana Legalization Subsequent Week (Forbes)
