A method for cancer elemental risk assessments in hookah: An example in two common types of traditional and flavored tobaccos in Iran.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the elemental composition of traditional and flavored hookah tobacco, with a focus on heavy metals.

Methods: We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to analyze the concentrations of 29 elements in the raw tobacco, tobacco ash, hookah water after smoking, and tobacco smoke.

Results: The results showed that the traditional tobacco had significantly higher metal concentrations than the flavored tobacco in all samples.