noun a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor
In literature, miasma can be used metaphorically to represent a corrupting influence or atmosphere.
In history, miasma theory was prevalent before the discovery of germs as the cause of diseases.
In mythology, miasma can be associated with curses or negative energies.
In environmental science, miasma can refer to pollutants or toxic substances in the air.
In medicine, miasma refers to a noxious form of 'bad air' believed to be the cause of diseases in the past.
In literature, miasma is often used to describe a noxious atmosphere or influence that can have a corrupting or harmful effect on characters or events.
In psychology, miasma can be used metaphorically to describe negative thought patterns or emotional states that can contaminate a person's mental well-being.
In medicine, miasma theory was an outdated belief that diseases were caused by foul odors or 'bad air' emanating from decaying organic matter. This theory has been largely discredited in modern medicine.
Historians may use the concept of miasma to explore how beliefs about disease and contagion have influenced societies and shaped historical events.