Cigarettes
Traditional cigarettes burn tobacco wrapped in paper, delivering smoke with thousands of chemicals. The nicotine content averages 10-14mg per cigarette, with about 1mg absorbed by the smoker.
- Construction: Tobacco, paper, cellulose acetate filter
- Use: 5-7 minute smoking time per cigarette
- Nicotine: Highly addictive, rapid absorption
Vapes
E-cigarettes heat nicotine-containing liquid (typically 3-5% nicotine concentration) to create aerosol. Common base liquids include vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol.
- Construction: Battery, heating coil, e-liquid reservoir
- Use: Variable session lengths, typically 100-200 puffs per pod
- Nicotine: Salt nicotine formulations allow higher concentrations with less throat irritation
Hookahs
Waterpipes use burning charcoal to heat flavored tobacco (called shisha). A typical bowl contains 10-15g of tobacco, lasting 45-60 minutes.
- Construction: Water jar, hose, bowl, charcoal
- Use: Group sessions with shared mouthpiece
- Nicotine: 1 hour session ≈ 40-400 cigarettes' worth of nicotine
Key Comparisons
- Nicotine Delivery: Hookah > Cigarettes ≈ Vapes
- Toxins: Cigarettes produce most tar, hookah most carbon monoxide
- Flavors: Vapes and hookahs offer widest flavor variety