Why is it that we can breathe in steam/water vapor, and not worry about small amounts of water getting into our lungs?

Question

I take a lot of hot showers, and sometimes I find myself wondering why I am able to breathe in the steam around me and not worry about any water-in-lungs related health concerns. How is breathing in steam different than breathing in small amounts of water droplets?

In: 6500

Answer 1

At the level of steam in your shower, it’s not usually an issue, but there are places in the world where it is so humid and steamy that to enter the area you must wear a SCBA to prevent your lungs from filling with water and you drowning to death.