An evening with friends, a hookah on the terrace … This is perhaps a summer scene doomed to disappear in the town of Carros (06), in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Because Charles Scibetta, the mayor, has just taken a municipal decree aimed at banning hookahs from public spaces. The objective: to preserve the health of its 12,000 citizens.
Charles Scibetta (moreover without a political label) wishes to put an end to a “health scourge”: the text thus prohibits “the consumption of hookah within a perimeter of 20 meters around living quarters, public gardens, schools, sports facilities and cultural, as well as in public car parks and a number of streets and squares in the municipality ”. Since its entry into force, 3 reports have already been drawn up: the fines should not exceed 38 euros.
It must be said that despite its playful side and its exotic tastes, shisha is extremely bad for your health. Thus, according to the World Health Organization, a “shisha session” can represent the equivalent of 20 to 30 cigarettes.
Nickel, chromium, cobalt, lead and even … uranium
In january 2016, American researchers had shown that a hookah smoker inhaled 125 times more smoke, 25 times more tar, 2.5 times more nicotine and 10 times more carbon monoxide than when he smoked a cigarette. And in February 2015, another study revealed the presence of many heavy metals in hookah smoke: nickel, chromium, cobalt, lead and even … uranium.
However, Charles Scibetta’s decision does not seem to be motivated solely by health reasons. The text of the municipal decree also specifies that “having young people come together implies a deprivation of this public space for families who make a detour with their children (…) This ostentatious occupation is aggressive. “Much more questionable reasons.
