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03/25/2008: "Simple pollution as bad as the complicated stuff"

Soot produced by burning coal, diesel, wood and dung causes significantly more damage to the environment than previously thought, according to research published today. So-called "black carbon" could cause up to 60% of the current warming effect of carbon dioxide, according to the US researchers, making it an important target for efforts to slow global warming.

Around 400,000 people are estimated to die each year due to inhaling soot particles, particularly because of indoor cooking on wood and dung stoves in developing countries. These deaths are mainly among women and children.

[ What kind of pollution is "good," again? ]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/24/climatechange.fossilfuels