Black carbon linked to premature mortality

Context

According to a study that tracked mortality rates, Black Carbon was most associated with premature mortality.

• The study was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

About the Black Carbon

• Black carbon(BC) is a component of fine particulate matter (PM ≤ 2.5 µm).
• Black carbon consists of pure carbon in several linked forms. It is formed through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuel, and biomass.
• It is one of the main types of particle in both anthropogenic and naturally occurring soot.
• Black carbon results from the incomplete burning of fossil fuel.
• It’s a relatively short-lived pollutant in the atmosphere but influences cloud formation and atmospheric heat absorption processes.
  

Key findings of the study

• It has serious health impacts in terms of mortality due to BC aerosol exposure that have never been evaluated in India.
• The Indo-Gangetic plain has a high burden of black carbon with serious implications for regional climate and human health.
• Several cities in this belt routinely find themselves at the top of the list of the most polluted cities in India as well as the world.
• A 10-point increase in air pollution from black carbon led to an average 5% increase in mortality whereas a similar rise in PM 2.5 led to an average 1% increase in mortality.
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) were both associated with a 2.3% and 1.3% increase in mortality.
• The detrimental effect of pollutants was higher for males, age group 5-44 years and, in winter.
• The adverse effect of air pollutants was not limited to the current day of exposure but could extend to as late as five days after exposure.