Stittsville Coun. Shad Qadri, the chair of the health board, wrote to Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins on Thursday to say allowing herbal water pipes, like hookah pipes, "undermines progress made by the (smoke-free legislation) to protect people from second-hand smoke and causes enforcement complexities."The health board also wants the province to ban electronic cigarettes in public places and make sure that smoking marijuana, too, would be included in a prohibition.The health unit says it's pleased the City of Toronto just approved a ban on hookah smoking in bars and restaurants starting next spring. Four other Ontario municipalities have approved similar bans.
Water pipe smoking is "associated with a number of poor health outcomes," according to the health unit, which lists as examples lung cancer, respiratory illness, low birth weight, carbon monoxide poisoning, periodontal disease and "adverse cardiac events."Mayor Jim Watson said he would support expanding the smoking ban to water pipes and he encourages Ottawa's board of health to look into it.West Carleton-March Coun. Eli El-Chantiry, who has consistently raised concerns about water pipes over the years, said a larger ban would be better than piecemeal regulations across Ontario.
"It would be wise if it came from the province," El-Chantiry said.
The health unit says data collected in 2014 indicated about 14% of adults in Ottawa have used a water pipe at some point in their lives and 50% of people 18-24 years old said they had tried a water pipe. That younger group of adults are more likely to feel smoking tobacco in a water pipe, and the second-hand smoke, is safer than cigarettes.An anti-water pipe campaign targeting young adults is in the works at the health unit.
Resource: http://www.ottawasun.com
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