Diwali, festival of lights, signifies the victory of good over evil. It is marked by exorbitant lighting, which implies the victory of light over darkness. But with changing times, unfortunately, firecrackers have become an integral part of the Diwali celebration. However, large-scale damage caused due to the bursting of firecrackers has left alarm bells ringing. Air pollution, noise pollution, dry waste and the health effects of fireworks are gruelling. A call for a pollution free Diwali is thus widely advocated and propagated. Read through to understand the impact of firecrackers.
Why Pollution Free Diwali?
Diwali firecrackers light up the entire sky. But these moments of joy and happiness are short-lived. What follows is a trail of damage to the health and environment. Here’s how a Diwali celebration with crackers affects our life:
Air Pollution
Firecrackers contain many chemical compounds. Barium, Cadmium, Sodium, Mercury, Nitrate, and Nitrite – these compounds are used in different proportions to create a unique sound and light effect in firecrackers. Radioactive and poisonous elements are added to the firecrackers to produce different colours on bursting. Upon burning, these chemicals release toxic gases into the atmosphere.
- Copper irritates the respiratory tract and eyes
- Cadmium impairs the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity
- Zinc and magnesium cause vomiting and fume fever
- Inhaling lead affects the central nervous system and oxygen-carrying capacity of blood
- Sodium causes skin burns and wounds
These gases remain suspended in the air for a long time until heavy rains or strong winds wash them away.
The bursting of firecrackers also increases the levels of Respirable Suspended Particulate Material (RSPM) in the air. While the standard level of RSPM is 60 micrograms per cubic metre, the Diwali celebration sees a sudden surge. Cities which witness the highest bursting of firecrackers record RSPM levels as high as 480 micrograms per cubic metre.
During respiration, these particles penetrate deep into the lungs, causing slow but steady damage. Increased RSPM levels affect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we live on. The condition is linked to an increased risk of developing lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases. To make things worse, inhaling fumes of these chemicals worsens pre-existing diseases. Pregnant women can suffer a miscarriage and young children are at risk of stunted growth.
Noise Pollution
Crackers contain chemicals. Upon ignition, gases are released into the air, which burn and cause an explosion. This results in the production of sound. In India, the recommended maximum noise level in residential areas is 55 dB during the daytime and 45 dB during the night. But noise beyond 60 dB can harm the ears and trigger permanent hearing loss. Some of India’s most densely populated cities record noise levels as high as 125 dB on Diwali night. These are typically related to the bursting of noisy crackers.
Elderly, especially those with chronic heart disease, and newborn children are at the highest health risk due to persistent exposure to loud noises. The noise of firecrackers also affects animals. As they feel scared, they tend to howl and bark uncontrollably, further adding to noise pollution. The use of loudspeakers and music systems during Diwali worsen the effect.
Dry Waste
Cracker waste, including burnt paper, plastic, and covers, layer city roads post Diwali. In some cities, the dry waste collected after Diwali weighs almost 200 MT. Unfortunately, not all are biodegradable. Survey results show that a massive part of the dry waste collected post-Diwali celebration is non-biodegradable which leads to soil pollution.
Furthermore, as few unburned crackers are still available in the dry waste, the bio-composting of dry biodegradable Diwali waste leads to the formation of methane gas, a hazardous greenhouse gas that leads to ozone depletion and contributes to global warming.
Can Pollution Free Crackers Help?
This Diwali, let’s pledge to spread happiness and not ill health. The best way to celebrate Diwali is without crackers. However, keeping in mind the excessive craze to burn firecrackers on Diwali, a new trend of pollution free crackers is coming up. Known as green crackers, these emit almost 30% fewer pollutants than conventional crackers. But can they control the firework aftermath?
Pollution free crackers are developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI). These are further approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industries. As the name suggests, pollution free crackers contain lesser quantities of polluting chemicals. Hence, they do not pollute or harm the environment and health as much as the traditional crackers.
Types of Pollution Free Crackers
The approved green crackers are of three types:
SWAS
SWAS crackers stand for Safe Water Releaser. On burning, these crackers release water vapours. They do not contain potassium nitrate and sulphur and have diluents for gaseous emissions. SWAS crackers release 30% less particulate matter.
STAR
These are the Safe Thermite Crackers. These crackers have no potassium nitrate and sulphur and release reduced particulate matter. These crackers also have a low sound intensity.
SAFAL
Also called the Safe Minimal Aluminium, this category of crackers has the least usage of aluminium. These crackers use magnesium instead of aluminium. This is why they have a reduced sound intensity
Advantages of Pollution Free Crackers
Green crackers fare better than regular crackers. The benefits of bursting pollution free crackers include:
Reduced air pollution
Green crackers use a limited amount of chemical substances. Thus, they cause significantly less air pollution than regular ones.
Reduced noise pollution
Green crackers are less noisy. The maximum decibel sound produced on bursting green crackers is far less than on bursting regular crackers.
Reduced particle emission
The raw materials used in manufacturing green crackers are safe and less polluting. Upon bursting, they release lesser RSPM in the air. As icing on the cake, pollution free crackers release water vapours which help settle the dust suspended in the air. Furthermore, they dilute the gaseous emissions, making them less damaging.
Reduced accidents
Regular crackers pack substances that are highly reactive, increasing the risk of accidental explosions. Skin burns and damage to the eyes are thus common with regular crackers. But pollution free crackers contain safe and less reactive compounds, reducing the risk of accidents.
Conclusion
In India, Diwali is celebrated with great fervour. Decorating homes with lights and diyas, visiting relatives and friends, and exchanging gifts and sweets; Diwali is the most awaited festival of the year. The bursting of firecrackers marks that the festival is celebrated with a bang. But the aftermath of firecrackers turns things gloomy. Celebrating Diwali with firecrackers results in serious air and noise pollution and leaves behind massive dry waste. These are associated with serious health risks. While air pollution raises the risk of cancers and respiratory ailments, noise pollution leads to deafness and ear trauma, and dry waste results in global warming.
Environmentalists and health experts, therefore, call for a pollution free Diwali. Efforts are also being made to manufacture pollution free crackers. Green crackers claim to reduce pollutants by almost 30%. But the remaining 70% is still a cause for concern. So, this Diwali, let’s spread happiness and not ailments or accidents.
