Is it bad to breathe in a fart?

As a health professional, I can tell you that while it might be humorously considered 'bad' to breathe in a fart due to the social stigma and unpleasant smell associated with it, from a strictly physiological perspective, it's not harmful. Farts are primarily composed of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane, which are all generally harmless gases. However, they do contain small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, which is the gas responsible for the rotten egg smell. The quote you provided from Exeter scientists suggests that hydrogen sulfide, despite its unpleasant odor, has potential health benefits and could be significant for future medical therapies. This doesn't mean that intentionally inhaling farts is beneficial or recommended. The context in which hydrogen sulfide might be helpful is likely in controlled medical settings, not through the act of breathing in flatulence. In summary, while it's not dangerous to accidentally breathe in a fart, it's also not something that offers any known health benefits. It's always best to maintain good hygiene and respiratory etiquette, which includes not deliberately inhaling or exhaling gases in the presence of others.

"Although hydrogen sulfide is well known as a pungent, foul-smelling gas in rotten eggs and flatulence, it is naturally produced in the body and could in fact be a health care hero with significant implications for future therapies for a variety of diseases," say the Exeter scientists.