By Chae Hee-mook
Contrails are vapor trails that are visible exhaust from jets flight at high altitudes as hot gases from engines heat up the cold air and are seen mainly in cold winter.
However, conspiracy theorists claim that this natural phenomenon is “actually” chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed by government aircraft for purposes undisclosed to the general public. They call them “chemtrails,” short for chemical trails.
These theorists say that chemtrails can be distinguished from contrails as they last longer ― as much as half a day ― are left by unidentified aircraft and change into unusual forms or colors.
They think it is a secret weapon used in disputed areas, claiming a considerable number of photos were taken in Korea and Israel. Some of them claim it is a U.S. government secret project; others, attack from aliens; and a fringe element, signs of the end of the world.
In 1998, the conspiracy buffs began to circulate theories about the U.S. Air Force "spraying the U.S. population with mysterious substances" from aircraft, "generating unusual contrail patterns." A witness died under mysterious substances but the FBI terminated an investigation, concluding “the liquid used by the air force was an experiment to revive the damaged ozone layer” and the person could not have been exposed to it.
This caused distrust in the government by the conspiracy theorists who sent letters to then President Bill Clinton, saying, “Stop spraying chemicals on people.”
What are the chemicals in these chemtrails? Activists say they are heavy metals such as asbestos, aluminum, barium chloride and thorium, well known for causing health problems. Also, some claim that red and white blood cells, microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and unknown biochemical substances are planted in them.
The theorists also believe chemtrails to be a major culprit of infertility and respiratory disease.
Recently, the chemicals have been cited as the cause of Morgellons, an alleged skin disease that the medical community regards delusional parasitosis, a psychiatric condition.
The “disease” is characterized by of skin symptoms, including crawling, biting and stinging sensations, and rashes or sores. However, there is no evidence that chemtrails or any other toxin causes it.
Most people dismiss the existence of chemtrails. They say there are much more specific ways to achieve clandestine purposes; and decry conspiracy theorists as delusional.
The latter argue that it cannot completely be ignored as there are numerous sightings of chemtrails. They say it is better to raise questions about “mysterious phenomena” than dismiss it, adding there are some things in nature that are beyond human imagination. On the other hand, it is also necessary to thoroughly investigate such things scientifically.