Kamal Chaouachi

> Scientific integrity and accountability in tobacco research supporting public health interventions. Researcher and consultant in this field, mainly from a prevention medical anthropology transdisciplinary perspective (more elaborated than a mere inter-disciplinary side-by-side collaboration). Native of Tunisia-Middle East. Postgrad. DIU Tabacologie (*) 1998 and early university education in non-social sciences (physics, chemistry...). Teaches the hookah science to French doctors (University of Paris XI-XII). Consulted by the French Ministry of Health (national debate on controversial smoking ban). Scientific collaborator of various excellence research centres in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Wrote two academic comprehensive books: (1) “Tout savoir sur le narguile –societe, histoire, culture et sante” [Everything about hookahs: societies, culture, history ; health] (Paris, Maisonneuve et Larose, 1997, 256 pages) ; (2) "Le narguile" (Paris, L’Harmattan, 261 pages). Authored or co-authored :

- Critique of the WHO flawed expert report on "“waterpipe"" smoking [2006] (Highly Accessed: 28,000 to 40,000 unique visits)

- First world studies on: Hookah smoking and cancer aetiology [2008]; its Radiological hazards [2008] (both highly accessed. First one: 27,000 to 40,000 unique visits) and its ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) (Passive Smoke) [2009] including Public Health recommendations.

- Tetralogy on hookah and health (2005, 2006).

- Critique (2009) of the US American University of Beirut’s flawed narghile smoking machine (behind the global confusion : e.g. above-mentioned WHO flawed report and, more recently : one 30-minute hookah session = up to 450 cigarettes...)[Read BBC story] and its smoking topography (2007 first critique here ).

> Issued the first Public Health recommendations in relation with carbon monoxide intoxication risk in hookah lounges (Alcoologie 1999). Co-translator into French of John Marks' public health classic: Drug Misuse and Social Cost (Br J Hosp Med. 1994). Involved, from Spring to Autumn 2004, in the development of a harm reduction narghile prototype cutting down CO (carbon monoxide) by 95%.

> All below cited studies have come to light in spite of a negative global environment for this kind of research, mainly caused by a regrettable competition (race for funds) and a scientifically unjustified prohibitionist agenda. They have been peer-reviewed by academic teams from excellence research centres such as INSERM, CNRS (France), worldwide renown university laboratories and by not less prestigious scholars in this field. Presently working on hookah smoking and cancer ; and on a blueprint to improve the controversial FCTC (Framework Convention for Tobacco Control).

(*) Note for English-speakers: Tabacologie (tobaccology, i.e. tobacco science) is in France (in particular) the official cutting-edge scientific discipline for the study of all aspects (health, pharmacological, behavioural, social, cultural, historical and economical) of tobacco use with a strong focus on the dependence phenomenon.

> Competing interests: None (financial or non-financial ). Unfortunately for him, he has never received any funding (direct or indirect ) neither from Pharmaceutical companies (Nicotine "Replacement" Therapies and tools: e.g. patches, gums...) nor from the Tobacco industry. More details (particularly about the 1st E-Letter he ever sent in his life - to "Tobacco Control", a renown antismoking journal - which "officially" marked his entry in this (battle-)field here ). Finally, few people realise that both the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries share a common economic interest in curbing down the world growing popularity of hookah smoking.

Plagiarism : In France, an extensive part of this work was plagiarised in the form of a "book" titled "Tout ce que vous ne savez pas sur la chicha" (Editions MARGAUX-ORANGE). Its "authors" are Bertrand Dautzenberg, president of OFT (Office Français du Tabagisme), the French top national antismoking authority, and Jean-Yves Nau, columnist with Le Monde national newspaper. The above publisher (Stéphane Arbouze) defends such a practice and two "peer-reviewed" articles (Prignot et al. in International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease; Becquemin et al. in Revue des Maladies Respiratoires) have openly cited this great fraud. Evidence here : Letter published in a peer-reviewed biomedical journal and comparative table there

CALL for collaboration or support: Critical research and free debate (even if it is still asymmetric: amazingly, there is no other researcher in the world voicing dissenting views in this field...) are key conditions for scientific progress. Get involved : any discipline from Humanities to Toxicology is welcome. Participate in any related project (scientific, editorial, cultural, commercial). DONATE through PayPal (address: kamcha*gmail.com)

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