Heavy exposure to soot is closely linked to cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular dysfunction. It’s estimated that around 7 million people die annually due to exposure to polluted air, with particulate matter and black carbon (another term for soot) playing a significant role. To offset the threat of soot people can plant trees and shrubs in the yard as clean-air barriers. Plants with fine hairs or leaves with dense grooves and waxy surfaces help trap air pollution before it reaches your lungs. Black carbon carries twice the climate-warming impact as previously thought. Along with methane, it is the greatest human-generated contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide.
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