The first peer-reviewed journal article focused on so-called “chemtrails” concludes that this long-held conspiracy theory is nothing but fog and air.
Believers in chemtrails argue the trails of condensation that appear behind aircraft aren’t merely condensed water vapor, but trails of chemicals like barium and aluminum that powerful forces covertly and intentionally spray into the atmosphere to influence weather patterns and control our behavior. Googling “chemtrails” turns up countless photos of zig-zagging condensation lines in the sky, which adherents say are proof that something strange is going on.
But the panel of atmospheric scientists surveyed in this study affirm that heat from aircraft engines produces condensation trails seen from the ground—also known as contrails--same as it’s been since the first aircraft engines achieved altitude decades ago. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, the Carnegie Institution for Science and the nonprofit Near Zero organization asked 77 atmospheric chemists and geochemists if they had come across evidence of large-scale chemical spraying programs, and 76 responded that they had not.
"The chemtrails conspiracy theory maps pretty closely to the origin and growth of the internet, where you can still find a number of websites that promote this particular brand of pseudoscience," said study co-author Steven Davis, UCI associate professor of earth system science. "Our survey found little agreement in the scientific community with claims that the government, the military, airlines and others are colluding in a widespread, nefarious program to poison the planet from the skies."
With more commercial flights in the sky every year, many planes must fly at higher altitudes to accommodate the traffic, resulting in condensation trails that appear to last longer, said experts on the panel. Several condensation trails crisscrossing in the sky is proof only that more and more aircraft are crowding the skyway.
But what about toxic substances found in water and soil samples that chemtrail theorists argue are directly connected to chemicals intentionally spewed from aircraft? The survey respondents point out that the samples are useless because the methods used to collect them, like using Mason jars with metal lids, contaminate anything valuable from the get-go.
Quoting one of the experts: "The jar will contaminate the sample, as will the metal lid, particularly if you shake it. I cannot imagine a worse protocol for collecting a sample; the data would be totally worthless." Another said, "To analyze metals in environmental samples, glass needs to go through an acid wash to remove any residual metals. Otherwise, plastic should be used."
None of the evidence against chemtrails should be construed to argue that emissions from aircraft engines are completely harmless. The U.S. EPA recently ruled that greenhouse gas emissions from jet engines endanger the health of humans and the environment by contributing to climate change. Three chemicals in particular--carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane—are emitted from jet engines and are all known contributors to climate change. The EPA notes that airlines account for roughly 12% of all transit-related greenhouse gas emissions and 3% of total emissions in the United States.
But the emission of chemicals from combustion engines, whether in aircraft or cars, is a well-studied and entirely separate matter from the chemtrail conspiracy, which holds that high-level powers are intentionally loading us up with chemical cocktails to affect human reproduction, incite aggressive or docile behavior and change weather patterns in the interests of the global elite.
Of course, the nature of conspiracy thinking is unyielding to contrary evidence, so this study isn't likely to influence true believers who may see the results as yet more proof of a cover-up at the highest levels. If governments, universities, airlines and other influential institutions are all “in on it” then nothing they say can be trusted. Nevertheless, the trail of evidence doesn't support the chemtrail conspiracy theory, though it may raise legitimate concerns about our overcrowded skyways.
The study was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
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