At the beginning of November 2021, the capital was covered in thick fog. Some city residents are concerned that it may be of chemical origin. We decided to check whether their fears were justified.
Many bloggers have suggested that this fog may not be an ordinary natural phenomenon, but a chemical release, for example Maria Shukshina (169,000 subscribers), "International Association of Independent Bloggers» (14,000) and other. Some suggested that the fog is associated with chemtrails - the spraying of special harmful substances, other believed that a nasal vaccine against coronavirus was being sprayed, others They even put forward the idea that the fog contains what they believe is a poisonous substance - graphene. "League against chipping people" appealed to Muscovites with a call: “Be vigilant, don’t let yourself be poisoned. Don’t go outside, stay at home, close all windows and vents, don’t take your dogs for a walk, drink absorbents.”
The media also did not stand aside: "Federal Press", and after him "Rosbalt"* And "New News" published a panicky statement by Igor Tarasov, an Orthodox priest from Kolomna. According to him, “the smell of chemicals is so strong - after 5 minutes there is a soreness in the nose and throat, watery eyes... Friends write that it is a coarse mist. Google - the mist released by trigger and pump sprayers is coarse... Tomorrow the increase in cases will be large.” He suggested that in this way the authorities are raising the coronavirus incidence statistics, and also noted the fact that some stars, such as TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak, left the country. Added panic interview scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center Roman Vilfand, in which he called the fog radiation, which to some, apparently, seemed identical to radioactive.
First, let’s look at the theories that we ourselves or our colleagues analyzed as part of fact-checking.
Chemtrails doesn't exist, this is a popular conspiracy theory according to which the trail left by an airplane in the sky is nothing more than sprayed chemicals. In fact, the white trace is ordinary condensation formed due to the temperature difference: hot exhaust gas and cold ambient air. An ordinary engine of a running car in cold weather will leave a similar mark, only less durable.
Graphene is non-poisonous substance, but its modification formed by a layer of carbon one atom thick. The human body is 18.5% consists of made of carbon. U graphene oxide, as reported by AFP fact-checkers, “there is some toxicity, but relatively little, so the material is being widely investigated for use in drug delivery systems and in vivo diagnostic sensors.”
The only nasal vaccine against coronavirus in Russia today is still located under development. On October 12, the second phase of testing the drug began (RCT No. 640), it will last until December 31, 2021 and only 500 volunteers will take part in it. By estimates developers, all stages of clinical trials should be completed by the end of 2023. Moreover, the existing drug for intranasal administration does not replace is an intramuscular vaccine, but only serves as additional protection for those already vaccinated and those who have recovered from the disease. So the assumption that vaccine fog will boost herd immunity is baseless.
The news about the release or leak of chemicals was also not confirmed. The management of the NPO Promet enterprise in the village of Sosenki, where the emissions were expected by users, refuted information about leaks or other incidents. Pollution map from Mosekomonitoring also doesn't show exceeding the maximum permissible concentration of any of the analyzed substances on the morning of November 3. Burning smell appeared due to burning of garbage and logging residues in the Moscow region.
Priest Igor Tarasov’s assumption is easily refuted by morbidity data. Contrary to his forecast given on November 2, the next day, November 3, there was no increase in incidence in Moscow and the Moscow region. November 3 in Moscow recorded 6827 new cases of infection. For comparison: the day before - 5736, with November 1 - 7103, and the maximum for the week - October 28: 8440 cases). Data for the Moscow region: November 3 - 2744, November 2 - 2893 (maximum figure for the week), November 1 - 2866.
Finally, it is necessary to deal with the statement of the Hydrometeorological Center about radiation fog. Roman Vilfand himself stated: “Today, in the absence of clouds, the soil and ground layer of air are cooling sharply. In cold air, a concentration of water vapor molecules occurs, this is called fog. This is a well-studied physical process.” The term has actually existed in Russian for a long time: for example, in Wikipedia, the radiation type of fog appears in the very first version of the article, dated back in 2005. A Google search also reveals that the phenomenon is not new. In 2021, a month earlier, he was noticed over Cheboksary, in 2019 he sank to Kirovskaya and Omsk region, in 2017 enveloped Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, in 2015 violated air traffic in the UK, also observed in Tallinn And Kyiv.
The nature of radiation fog explains geographer Daria Gushchina: “The term “radiation mists” has nothing to do with radiation and nuclear reactions. This name is associated with solar and terrestrial radiation. Solar radiation is the radiation that comes from the sun and heats the earth. Terrestrial, or thermal, radiation is the radiation emitted by the earth or atmosphere. <…> There is no solar radiation at night, so the earth gradually cools. If the earth cools, then the air in contact with it gives up its heat to the earth's surface and also cools. This air can cool to the dew point, when the water vapor contained in the air can no longer be contained in it. The amount of water vapor that air can contain is determined by its temperature. If the temperature drops, the air may contain less water vapor, so the excess water vapor will condense and a cooling radiation fog will form near the earth's surface."
Both Gushchina and Vilfand accentuate attention to the fact that although the words “radiation” and “radioactive” sound similar, the name of the fog has nothing to do with radioactivity. To be convinced of this, it is enough to remember a few more similar-sounding words: “radio” or “heating radiator.” We are not inclined to attribute radioactive danger to any of these items, and many of us use them every day. All these words have common origin is the Latin word radiare, meaning “to emit”, “to radiate”. Radiation fog is associated specifically with solar and terrestrial radiation and does not pose a danger.
Thus, the fog that has descended on Moscow and the region is not associated with the authorities’ attempts either to poison or, conversely, to vaccinate people. There is also no connection between radiation fog and radioactivity. This is a well-studied natural phenomenon that has been observed before in other places on the planet.
*Included by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in the register of foreign agents.
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