passive smoke and crossing a street

[sanctus]

Please no philosophical debate about this here, I'll start one when I got the answer I seek.

The question is: is passive smoke worse than crossing a street in a big city (ie the smog)?
Your answer: Yes/no because...

[Biochemist]

Originally Posted by sanctus

...is passive smoke worse than crossing a street in a big city (ie the smog)?
...

I believe the answer is unknown. The effects of second hand smoke are probably significantly exaggerated. The effects of high levels of sulfer aod nitrogen oxides are known as well, but the comparison is reasonably difficult to make with any sort of quality.

As air pollution has significantly improved in US cities over the last 30 years, the incidence of respiratory disorders thought to be secondary to pollution have fallen as well.

The epidemiological effects of second hand smoke are a little suspect, with the exception of the adverse effects on folks that are asthmatic, and are predisposed to bronchoconstriction anyway.

[Turtle]

___I would say no because you likely have less control over breathing the smog than the passive smoke. Moving out of the city is no assurance of escaping the smog, whereas you can remove yourself from the second hand smoke or have the smoker remove themself. Moreover, smokers vary widely in the amount, time, & place they smoke, whereas the smog is fairly consistant in its source. That just said, I submit weather has a considerable effect on the smog. Hope this is of some help.

[bumab]

I'm going to say smog is worse for the same reasons as Turtle. Smog is a 24 hour thing for city dwellers, smoke is not (unless you live with a smoker).

Neither is good for ya.

[Fishteacher73]

It is usually thought that indoor air quality is often much worse than that outdoors. Every solvent, petroleum product, or chemical you use indoors esstially will produce some sort of off-gassing. This builds up indoors and is much worse than that of the average outdoor air.

[karlfreak]

well now i am from the country and i can't say what smog does to me but i do know that while loving with both my parents who are smokers i have discoverd it harder to breath after running unless i've been away for a day or 2

[sanctus]

Thanks I'll start a thread now in the philosophy section

[tarak]

It depends on where the passive inhaler is;and alos the days climate,relative humidity in the atmosphere,etc..??????////
In general I feel passive smoke is more dangerous than the smog on the street as it is more concentrated and unadulterated poison.whereas smog is more heterogenous and more diffused I suppose.(Some study revealed nearly 3000 different chemicals including several carcinogens in cigarette smoke).

[sanctus]

Yes, I think you're right tarak passive smoke is worse (unless you're in Rome,mexicocity or something like that). But smog is everywhere while passive smoke isn't so combatting smog is more important to me

[bartock]

Originally Posted by sanctus

Please no philosophical debate about this here, I'll start one when I got the answer I seek.

The question is: is passive smoke worse than crossing a street in a big city (ie the smog)?
Your answer: Yes/no because...

r u talking about lab conditions or an ordinary walk in street and smoke on top of it