PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – Black carbon, or soot, not only contributes to global warming but also poses health risks to populations exposed to it, according to a new study from the University of Mississippi.
Black carbon is an air pollutant and very small.
“Fine particulate matter are particles in the air that contain thousands of different chemical compounds, and black carbon is one of the compounds found in fine particulate matter,” said Dr. Courtney Roper, a researcher on the study.
Roper said they found that the black carbon levels in six cities in Mississippi were above the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of what is a normal cancer risk.
The top two: Jackson and Hattiesburg.
“Air pollutants travel from different sources, but it also, black carbon, comes from traffic industry, agriculture,” Roper said. “So, there’s a lot of contributing factors that create black carbon.”
The study shows exposure could be linked to cancer and cardiovascular issues.
Dr. David Sullivan, a cardiologist from the South Central Regional Medical Center, said while the high levels of black carbon could pose a risk to your heart health, your main worry should be your lifestyle.
“The most polluted air that anybody ever sees is cigarette smoke,” said Sullivan. “So, if you smoke, stop. If you live with somebody that smokes, try to get them to stop.”
Sullivan continued by explaining some signs that something may be wrong.
“Shortness of breath, chest pain, heart racing, dizziness or loss of consciousness; those patients need to start with their primary care provider and then depending on what is found, they might need to see a cardiologist to have those symptoms checked out,” Sullivan said.
To read more about the study from the University of Mississippi, click HERE.
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