If you walk past people smoking, is it safer to take quick, short breaths or one large breath and hold it in?

Question

To minimise the risk of lung cancer, if you walk past people smoking, is it safer to take quick, short breaths or one large breath and hold it in? If you take one breath and hold it in, you inhale less smoke, but more of it would penetrate the alveoli in the lungs and get trapped there, which may increase the risk of cancer. What's the safest thing to do?

If I notice they're smoking before I reach them, I try to hold my breath until I pass them, but sometimes you don't see them smoking until you smell it, by which time it's too late and you're already breathing in the smoke - hence the question.

I don't really worry about it - just curious, that's all. :o)

Answer 1

Take a deep breath as you approach the smoke and then gently breathe out thus creating positive pressure that smoke cant penetrate. I think Im right in saying that this is the principle of firemens breathing apperatus. The mask doesnt make a perfect seal, but the air pressure keeps the nasties out.
Or move to Scotland where smoking is banned in all public and work places

Answer 2

Just hold your breath until you go by the smoke. It's really not hurting you if you do walk by them and breath some of it in. It hurt's you more when you are in a room full of smoke that is when it's not good.

Answer 3

Well, it's probably advisable to hold ur breath till u pass them.
But the problem is even if u don't get cancer frm second hand smoke, there's still carbon monoxide everywhere frm exhaust fumes and the rest that'll hand u over to cancer so what's d point.
I think we shd just pray hard that it walks past us.

Answer 4

You worry too much. You could just as likely get cancer from inhalation of traffic fumes. Are you going to hold your breath every time you walk past a moving vehicle? Worrying like that is more likely to cause ulcers, depression, and could lower your immune system to almost any disease. I hate to say it but get a life! x

Answer 5

well there are alot of smokers around so it'll be hard but 'passive smokers' meaning people that don't smoke but breathe in the smoke of others do get 25% increased chance of heard disease. which sucks, but i hope the ban of smoking in public areas work, nice to breathe fresh air for once.
Safest thing to do is just never to smoke or spend loads of time with smokers coz you'll then become a smoker being around them alot.
Look at the link below its the health risks associated with passive smoking

Answer 6

Don't worry about holding your breath because your body has ways of coping with small amounts of toxins. Passive smoking is a only problem for people like those who work in smoky bars for long hours, or if you are around family members who smoke for example.


Smoking is a vile habit, and was responsible for the long period of illness before my grandfather died (I don't blame him, they didn't know back then, and the damage was done).

I like to make my opinion known when people walk past doing it. "EUGH THAT STINKS!!!", a stern look, or coughing is usually very effective in embarrasing them! haha :P

Answer 7

That's not very nice - it's a valid question! Personally I like to cough as much as possible when I walk past just to make sure they notice how inconsiderate, selfish and disgusting they're being...I say, if you want to smoke, stay at home. Won't be long before they ban it everywhere anyway...

Answer 8

Depends how long you can hold your breath? Must i remind you that as soon as you exhale your holded breath that you still have this problem with the dirt and filth that carries in the car fumes that are parked outside that area.

Answer 9

Keep water with you at all times.. take a sip and create a water barrier in the Eustachian tube by holding the water in your mouth...daub some in your nostrils and ears then rinse after you've passed your adversaries.
Now, if cannabis is involved.... I'd have a somewhat different method.

Answer 10

I do, without making it too obvious. The smell is just awful and I don't want to breathe in their smoke!