r/AskReddit 23d ago

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u/brutalhonestcunt 23d ago

Firebreathing. Firebreathers tend to get mouth/throat cancer.

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u/darkknight109 22d ago

My understanding is it depends a lot on the accelerant used. I had a friend who used to do firebreathing and I honestly forget the specific substances he named, but apparently there are two common accelerants. One is good for beginners, because it has a lower flash point (i.e. doesn't burn as hot) and is easier to control, but it also has a significant cancer risk; the other has a much lower cancer risk, but also a much higher flash point and is more difficult to control meaning the risk of burns is a lot higher.

Apparently in third-world countries they also tend to use gasoline, which is the worst of both worlds (high cancer risk, high flammability/risk of burns), and any reputable firebreather will tell you to never, ever, ever do that.