Chemical Engineering in Daily Life – Question 89: Can smelling vinegar help prevent colds?

Can smelling smoked vinegar or regular vinegar prevent colds? There is a belief among the public that vinegar can disinfect, kill bacteria, and prevent colds, but experiments conducted by disinfection experts have shown that vinegar has no effect in terms of disinfection or killing bacteria, let alone eliminating viruses. 　　If the concentration of smoked vinegar is too high and the treatment time is too long, the acidic gases emitted by it can irritate the upper respiratory tract and the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract; this can particularly trigger or worsen the conditions of patients suffering from tracheitis, emphysema, asthma, and other similar diseases. Severe cases can burn the mucosa of the upper digestive tract; it has the greatest impact on children, the elderly, and people with asthma. Many people believe that vinegar has disinfectant and antibacterial properties, probably because it contains acetic acid. Acetic acid does have disinfectant and antibacterial effects at certain concentrations, but these effects are not very strong; even at high concentrations, its use is not recommended. The acetic acid concentration in vinegar is very low, far too low to have any disinfecting effect. The claim that smelling vinegar or inhaling its vapor can prevent colds is a myth!

Can smelling smoked vinegar or regular vinegar prevent colds? There is a belief among the public that vinegar can disinfect, kill bacteria, and prevent colds, but experiments conducted by disinfection experts have shown that vinegar has no effect in terms of disinfection or killing bacteria, let alone eliminating viruses. 　　If the concentration of smoked vinegar is too high and the treatment time is too long, the acidic gases emitted by it can irritate the upper respiratory tract and the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract; this can particularly trigger or worsen the conditions of patients suffering from tracheitis, emphysema, asthma, and other similar diseases. Severe cases can burn the mucosa of the upper digestive tract; it has the greatest impact on children, the elderly, and people with asthma. Many people believe that vinegar has disinfectant and antibacterial properties, probably because it contains acetic acid. Acetic acid does have disinfectant and antibacterial effects at certain concentrations, but these effects are not very strong; even at high concentrations, its use is not recommended. The acetic acid concentration in vinegar is very low, far too low to have any disinfecting effect. The claim that smelling vinegar or inhaling its vapor can prevent colds is a myth!

I had always thought it was possible, but it seems that the answer given by the friend upstairs is wrong...

Acetic acid cannot cure diseases. I remember during the SARS outbreak, there was a frantic buying spree for acetic acid, and as a result, the merchants made profits.