Black carbon particles contribute to increasing COVID-19 cases

Black carbon particles contribute to increasing COVID-19 cases

Subject: Environment

In news: Black carbon particles contribute to increasing COVID-19 cases. This is according to a recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology located in Pune.

About the study:

• The COVID-19 infection count increase corresponded with an increase in black carbon in the atmosphere and decreased simultaneously with the decrease in black carbon in the atmosphere.
• The study also suggests that this holds true only for black carbon particles and not all PM2.5 particles. 
• The Increase in COVID-19 infection rate in Delhi coincided with stubble burning in neighbouring states, the study showed.
• The aged biomass BC particles aggregated and reacted with other compounds to grow in size, providing temporary habitat to viruses. This led to a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases.

About Black Carbon: 

• BC is a short-lived pollutant that is the second-largest contributor to warming the planet behind carbon dioxide (CO₂). Black carbon is a kind of an aerosol. An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in the air.
• Black carbon is commonly known as soot. Soot is a form of particulate air pollutant, produced from incomplete combustion.
• India and China are the largest emitters of black carbon in the world.
• It gets emitted from gas and diesel engines, coal-fired power plants, and other sources that burn fossil fuel. It comprises a significant portion of particulate matter or PM2.5, which is an air pollutant.
• Unlike other greenhouse gas emissions, BC is quickly washed out and can be eliminated from the atmosphere if emissions stop.
• Unlike historical carbon emissions it is also a localised source with greater local impact.
• It emits infra-red radiation that increases the temperature.

Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC):

• The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants which includes Methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) etc.

What are short-lived climate pollutants?

• Short-lived climate pollutants are those pollutants which are short lived in the atmosphere.
• They are also known as Super Pollutants.
• Methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are some examples of short-lived pollutants.
• They are many times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the planet.
• But because they are short-lived in the atmosphere, preventing emissions can rapidly reduce the rate of warming.