We re-examine the systematic errors in the determination of the primordial helium abundance, $Y_{ \rm P}$. We find that the systematics are significantly larger than the statistical errors. The uncertainty in (the determination of) $Y_{ \rm P}$, is thus, larger than is currently claimed. Furthermore, most of the systematics lead to underestimate of $Y_{ \rm P}$. The new upper bound allows cosmological models with no non-baryonic dark matter in which $\Omega_{ baryons} = \Omega_{ BBN} = \Omega_{ dyn}$.
Categories: astro-ph