Smoke as a carrier of atmospheric pollution, is able to break the barrier between external and internal environment of a respiring creature. Primary pollutants arise from all processes of combustion able to affect ecosystems or biologic mechanisms. Among physiologic factors influencing susceptibility to airway disease are size of contact-area between respiratory tissue and airways. Some airway diseases are influenced by pollution. The atmospheric and industrial pollutants irritant to airways are inevitable whereas the habit of smoking is at the own responsibility of each individual. The withdrawal programs for smokers of the association of Swiss physicians (FMH) and the Swiss Office of public health are fully supported.