Hookah pipes or water pipes are gaining a lot of popularity amongst teens. However, a recent study suggests that hookah pipe smoking may lead to cigarette smoking.

Lead researcher Samir Soneji, of Dartmouth College School of Medicine in Lebanon, suggests that water pipes remain unregulated in America by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is leading to increased usage amongst American teens.

Experts suggest that he growing popularity of hookah pipes amid teens is mainly due to the low prices, appealing packaging and the variety of flavors they are available in. When teens start using hookah pipes they are very likely to take on cigarette smoking in the future.

The study conducted by Soneji included more than 1,000 non-smoker between the age of 15 and 23 years. About 7 percent of the subjects tried hookah pipes at least once and around 2 percent used snus (a type of chewing tobacco).

The study found that after about two years, 39 percent of the subjects who smoked hookah also started smoking cigarettes. However, only 20 percent of the people who did not smoke hookah started smoking cigarettes.

Around 55 percent of the people who tried snus took on to cigarette smoking, while only 20 percent of non-snus users started smoking cigarettes.

The researchers suggest that the study provides enough evidence that smoking snus or water pipes can lead to cigarette smoking in the future.

Dr. Mary O'Sullivan, director of the Smoking Cessation Program at Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, reveals that nicotine present in these products plays an important role for hookah and snus users to take onto cigarette smoking.

"Nicotine remains one of the most addicting substances and teens are especially vulnerable to its addiction," says Dr. O'Sullivan. "Those youth who are especially susceptible to nicotine addiction, by their genetic or sociological profile, with fairly brief exposure to nicotine will risk developing a potentially permanent addiction."

The findings of the latest research are important as it will help the FDA understand the growing concerns related to smoking water pipes and implement stricter regulations on hookah pipes and snus.

The researchers call for the FDA to implement regulations to prevent the use and sale of hookah and snus to youths.

The study has been published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.