Yeah, I read that part. When it comes to other chemicals alone it may be better to use a bong. Key word they use is "may". They haven't studied that to then extent they've studied the tar/THC ratio.

The study showed that water certainly filters out more THC then tar (also a known cancer causing agent). They aren't sure whether or not it filtered out more THC then the other known cancer causing chemicals. Basically they are saying don't throw your bong out because of one study. And I agree... if a bong works better for you then stick to it.

I also vaporize when I use a pipe for most of the initial hits (via the "Ubie method"). This lets me hold in the first few hits off the bowl that are pretty much all cannabinoid vapor... with no worry that I'm holding in carcinogenic chemicals. So all in all smoking in a pipe is much more efficient for me, saves my weed, and is just the way to go for me.

Quote Originally Posted by 420_24/7
Nonetheless, it is still premature to judge that waterpipes are actually unhealthful, since they may filter out other, non-solid smoke toxins occurring in the gas phase of the smoke, which was not analyzed in the study. Noxious gases known to occur in marijuana smoke include hydrogen cyanide, which incapacitates the lung's defensive cilia; volatile phenols, which contribute to the harshness of the taste; aldehydes, which promote cancer; and carbon monoxide, a known risk factor in heart disease. Previous studies indicate that water filtration may be quite effective in absorbing some of these [Nicholas Cozzi, Effects of Water Filtration on Marijuana Smoke: A Literature Review, MAPS Newsletter, Vol. IV #2, 1993]. If so, waterpipes might still turn out to have net health benefits.