Smog vs. Smoke: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Smog is a type of air pollution combining smoke and fog, while smoke is the visible vapor and gases emitted when a material combusts.
Key Differences
Smog is formed from smoke, fog, and other pollutants, often exacerbated by weather conditions. Smoke is primarily produced by the burning of materials like wood, fossil fuels, or other substances.
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Smog has significant health and environmental impacts, particularly in urban areas. Smoke, depending on its source and composition, can be a health hazard and contribute to air pollution.
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Smog often leads to reduced visibility and can linger over areas for extended periods. Smoke tends to disperse more quickly unless in the presence of large-scale fires or industrial emissions.
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The primary contributors to smog include vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Smoke is directly linked to combustion processes, such as in fireplaces, engines, or wildfires.
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Smog can be identified by its characteristic haze and is often monitored for air quality control. Smoke detection is crucial for fire safety and air quality, and its control is essential in fire management and industrial regulations.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Combination of smoke, fog, and pollutants
Vapor and gases from combustion
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Health Impact
Can cause respiratory problems, especially in dense urban areas
Varies; can be toxic or irritating depending on the source
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Source
Vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, chemical reactions
Burning of wood, fossil fuels, and other materials
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Visibility Effect
Reduces visibility, creating a haze
Visible as a plume or cloud, may reduce visibility in large quantities
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Control Measures
Air quality regulations, reduction of pollutants
Fire management, pollution control in industrial processes
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Smog and Smoke Definitions
Smog
Air pollution formed by smoke and fog
The city was covered in a thick layer of smog.
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Smoke
Emission resulting from combustion
Smoke billowed from the burning building.
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Smog
A common problem in congested urban areas
Los Angeles used to be notorious for its smog.
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Smoke
Visible vapor from burning materials
The campfire's smoke drifted into the night sky.
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Smog
Detrimental to respiratory health
The smog alert advised people to stay indoors.
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Smoke
Can be a signal of fire or combustion
Smoke alarms went off when the toast burned.
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Smog
A haze caused by atmospheric pollutants
Smog levels rise during hot, still weather.
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Smoke
Can be harmful if inhaled
He coughed violently from the smoke inhalation.
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Smog
Result of chemical reactions in the atmosphere
Industrial emissions contribute significantly to smog formation.
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Smoke
A mixture of gases and small suspended particles of soot or other solids, resulting from the burning of materials such as wood or coal.
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Smog
A form of air pollution produced by the photochemical reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides that have been released into the atmosphere, especially by automotive emissions.
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Smog
A noxious mixture of particulates and gases that is the result of urban air pollution.
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Smoke
Something insubstantial, unreal, or transitory
"What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn out to be falsehood to-morrow, mere smoke of opinion" (Henry David Thoreau).
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Smog
(informal) To get a smog check; to check a vehicle or have it checked for emissions.
If the car is more than five years old, you'll have to have it smogged before you can register it.
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Smoke
(Informal) Tobacco in a form that can be smoked, especially a cigarette
Money to buy smokes.
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Smoke
(Baseball) Pitches thrown at high velocity; fast balls
Threw a lot of smoke in the early innings.
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Smoke
To draw in and exhale smoke from a cigarette, cigar, or pipe
It's forbidden to smoke here.
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Smoke
To engage in smoking regularly or habitually
He smoked for years before stopping.
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Smoke
To emit smoke or a smokelike substance
Chimneys smoking in the cold air.
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Smoke
To emit smoke excessively
The station wagon smoked even after the tune-up.
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Smoke
To play or perform energetically
The band was really smoking in the second set.
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Smoke
To draw in and exhale the smoke of (tobacco, for example)
I've never smoked a panatela.
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Smoke
To preserve (meat or fish) by exposure to the aromatic smoke of burning hardwood, usually after pickling in salt or brine.
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Smoke
To expose (animals, especially insects) to smoke in order to immobilize or drive away.
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Smoke
(uncountable) The visible vapor/vapour, gases, and fine particles given off by burning or smoldering material.
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Smoke
Anything to smoke (e.g. cigarettes, marijuana, etc.)
Hey, you got some smoke?
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Smoke
An instance of smoking a cigarette, cigar, etc.; the duration of this act.
I'm going out for a smoke.
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Smoke
A fleeting illusion; something insubstantial, evanescent, unreal, transitory, or without result.
The excitement behind the new candidate proved to be smoke.
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Smoke
Something used to obscure or conceal; an obscuring condition; see also smoke and mirrors.
The smoke of controversy.
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Smoke
A particulate of solid or liquid particles dispersed into the air on the battlefield to degrade enemy ground or for aerial observation. Smoke has many uses--screening smoke, signaling smoke, smoke curtain, smoke haze, and smoke deception. Thus it is an artificial aerosol.
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Smoke
(countable) A distinct column of smoke, such as indicating a burning area or fire.
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Smoke
(transitive) To inhale and exhale the smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.
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Smoke
(intransitive) To give off smoke.
My old truck was still smoking even after the repairs.
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Smoke
(intransitive) Of a fire in a fireplace: to emit smoke outward instead of up the chimney, owing to imperfect draught.
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Smoke
(transitive) To preserve or prepare (food) for consumption by treating with smoke.
You'll need to smoke the meat for several hours.
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Smoke
To fill or scent with smoke; hence, to fill with incense; to perfume.
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Smoke
To perform (e.g. music) energetically or skillfully.
The horn section was really smokin' on that last tune.
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Smoke
To punish (a person) for a minor offense by excessive physical exercise.
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Smoke
(transitive) To cover (a key blank) with soot or carbon to aid in seeing the marks made by impressioning.
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Smoke
The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes, or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.
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Smoke
To emit smoke; to throw off volatile matter in the form of vapor or exhalation; to reek.
Hard by a cottage chimney smokes.
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Smoke
Hence, to burn; to be kindled; to rage.
The anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke agains. that man.
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Smoke
To raise a dust or smoke by rapid motion.
Proud of his steeds, he smokes along the field.
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Smoke
To draw into the mouth the smoke of tobacco burning in a pipe or in the form of a cigar, cigarette, etc.; to habitually use tobacco in this manner.
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Smoke
To suffer severely; to be punished.
Some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
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Smoke
To apply smoke to; to hang in smoke; to disinfect, to cure, etc., by smoke; as, to smoke or fumigate infected clothing; to smoke beef or hams for preservation.
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Smoke
To fill or scent with smoke; hence, to fill with incense; to perfume.
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Smoke
To smell out; to hunt out; to find out; to detect.
I aloneSmoked his true person, talked with him.
He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu.
Upon that . . . I began to smoke that they were a parcel of mummers.
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Smoke
To inhale and puff out the smoke of, as tobacco; to burn or use in smoking; as, to smoke a pipe or a cigar.
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Smoke
To subject to the operation of smoke, for the purpose of annoying or driving out; - often with out; as, to smoke a woodchuck out of his burrow.
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Smoke
A hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion;
The fire produced a tower of black smoke that could be seen for miles
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Smoke
An indication of some hidden activity;
With all that smoke there must be a fire somewhere
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Smoke
Something with no concrete substance;
His dreams all turned to smoke
It was just smoke and mirrors
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Smoke
The act of smoking tobacco or other substances;
He went outside for a smoke
Smoking stinks
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Smoke
(baseball) a pitch thrown with maximum velocity;
He swung late on the fastball
He showed batters nothing but smoke
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Smoke
Inhale and exhale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes;
We never smoked marijuana
Do you smoke?
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can smog occur in rural areas?
It's less common, as smog typically forms in urban environments.
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Does all smoke smell the same?
No, the smell varies based on what is burning.
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How harmful is smog to health?
It can cause respiratory issues and aggravate lung conditions.
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What time of year is smog most common?
Often in the summer due to heat and sunlight intensifying pollution.
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What are the dangers associated with inhaling smoke during a fire?
Inhaling smoke during a fire can lead to respiratory problems, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other health issues, making it important to evacuate safely.
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Can smoke be used for preservation or flavoring in food?
Yes, smoking is a culinary technique that uses smoke to add flavor and preserve food, like smoked meats or cheeses.
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Can smoke detectors sense smog?
They are designed to detect smoke, not specifically smog.
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How can smog be reduced?
Through pollution control, such as reducing vehicle emissions.
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Where is smog most commonly found?
Smog is often prevalent in densely populated urban areas with high levels of pollution.
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Is smog harmful to health?
Yes, smog can be harmful as it contains harmful pollutants like fine particles and ground-level ozone, which can impact respiratory health.
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Is smoke harmful to health?
Inhaling smoke, especially from burning materials like tobacco or wood, can be harmful and may contain toxins and carcinogens.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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