(POMONA, Calif)- An increasing amount of college students smoke hookah despite evidence that it is as harmful as cigarette smoking.

While many students believe smoking hookah is less harmful than cigarette smoking, studies indicate it is as harmful or even more detrimental to one’s health than smoking cigarettes. The typical hookah smoker spends more time per smoking session than other smokers because of the pleasant atmosphere and less irritating smoke. A typical session lasts 30 minutes to an hour, compared to a cigarette which lasts only five minutes. A one-hour session of hookah smoking exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from one cigarette, according to the World Health Organization. Even though the tobacco smoke is water-filtered, it contains high levels of toxins including carbon monoxide, heavy metals and carcinogens. Hookah smoking also contains high levels of nicotine, so it can be as addictive as cigarette smoking, according to a report on the Mayo Clinic Web site.

“It’s a social activity people hopefully grow out of,” said Emily Troyer, second-year liberal studies student. “It’s popular, but it’s not the most popular thing for college students to do.”

At least 200 to 300 new hookah bars have opened in the United States during the past three to five years, especially in California and near college campuses, according to Smokeshop Magazine. Eighty-six percent of colleges and universities have at least one hookah lounge nearby.

“It’s at its largest demand ever in this country,” said Brennan Appel, who runs SouthSmoke.com, an online supplier of hookah pipes and tobacco. “I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon. There’s so much more room for the product to expand. Only a small percentage of Americans know about it.”

Hookah bars also pose legal concerns. According to the California Smoke-free Workplace Act-Labor Code 6404.5, which prohibits indoor smoking, almost all hookah bars are operating illegally. Except for three exemptions, smoking tobacco in any form in an enclosed workplace is illegal. This law does not distinguish between the smoking of tobacco in cigarettes or hookah pipes.

Hookah establishments are except from the Labor Code if they are owner-operated (have no employees), are a private smokers’ lounge, or are solely a retail tobacco store. If a hookah bar has even one part-time employee, it must be smoke-free indoors at all times.

To qualify for the second exemption a hookah bar’s main purpose must be selling tobacco. If the bar sells food and/or beverages (alcoholic or nonalcoholic), or offers live entertainment, it violates the law.

A typical hookah bar usually offers beverages, light food and entertainment in order to be successful. It would be difficult for a hookah bar to survive simply on profits from selling hookah products. The California Health and Safety Code also applies to hookah businesses. It does not allow an employee who sells food to handle or light hookah pipes, or offer tobacco to customers. Even if the establishment is owner-operated, there can not be food sold at the establishment.

A hookah is a traditional Middle Eastern device that uses charcoal to heat tobacco. It can be used for smoking many substances such as marijuana and opium, but at hookah lounges and cafes it is often used to smoke herbal fruits. A very common mixture is shredded tobacco leaf and a sweetener, such as honey or fruit. Many hookah cafes offer a variety of flavors such as apple, strawberry, mango, cappuccino, vanilla, coconut, banana, kiwifruit, cola, mint and even licorice. The smoke is filtered through water to create a smoother taste and experience than cigarette smoking, according to Smokeshop Magazine.

Hookah smoking is a very social activity in the U.S. Hookahs are often three feet high with several long hoses to allow several people to share. People enjoy gathering around a hookah with their friends and soaking in the exotic ambiance of a hookah bar.

“The atmosphere is very mellow and relaxing,” said Richard Park, a fifth-year marketing student. “But I don’t like smoking hookah because it tastes like flavored charcoal.” The low cost of hookah is another appealing factor to college students. A hookah session ranges from $5 to $25, depending on the hookah and type of tobacco.After splitting the cost with a few friends, smoking hookah is much cheaper than a night spent drinking at a regular bar.