Covid-19 virus piggybacks only black carbon emitted during biomass burning and not all PM2.5 particles. The study, published in the journal ELSEVIER, is based on data collected from Delhi, from September to December 2020, and the 24-hour average of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and black carbon (BC).
PM2.5 refers to fine particles which penetrate deep into the body and fuel inflammation in the lungs and respiratory tract, leading to the risk of having cardiovascular and respiratory problems, including a weak immune system.
PM2.5 consists of black carbon, often called soot, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), among others. Almost 40 per cent of BC emissions are attributed to open biomass burning, 40 per cent to fossil fuel