HealthAugust 13, 2026
soot
SUHT
Definition
A black, powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.
Etymology
The word originates from the Old English 'sōt', which is of Germanic origin and related to the Old Norse 'sót'. It has historically referred to the dark, fine powder resulting from fire.
In the news
The article uses the term to refer to airborne particles resulting from a recent fire, noting that public health officials do not consider it a significant long-term danger. It is the central subject of the health risk assessment discussed in the report.
Black soot doesn’t pose long-term health risks, Hamilton Public Health says
Read the full article ↗CP24