T
he festival of lights, Diwali is again with us. With the
advent of the festive season people are all set to express
their overwhelming happiness. Decorating homes,
shops, workstations, banquet, etc. with lights has always been
imperative to this festival. By tradition, homes are lit with clay
lamps, candles and fairy lights. Apart from this, firework or
bursting crackers is also considered a significant part of this
festival. The sky of Diwali night is emblematic of delight and
festivity prevailing in the people’s heart as it is all illuminated
with blazing crackers.
The jubilance of the festival spirit has caused people to overlook
the detrimental effects of fireworks. As per the present scenario,
we need to think of renaming this festival. It should now be
called Patakeawali (due to the large number of crackers that are
exploded). Every year, the quantum of air and noise pollution
caused due to the bursting of firecrackers increases
on Diwali. Every time a cracker is lit, think of the
money going up in smoke, money that could
be utilised for a poor child’s education! Besides,
it adversely affects environment and health
of people.
How firecrackers are made inside the factory
is something not many end users know of.
Most of these factories are located in Siliguri,
Champahati near Kolkata and near Ahmedabad.
For a number of children and women in the rural
areas, making firecrackers is the only way they can earn their
livelihood. However, chemicals used in making firecrackers are
inimical to their lungs, posing a threat to children’s lives at a
very young age. Firecrackers release pollutants such as sulphur
dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc. in the air,
which causes ailments like asthma and bronchitis. Suspended
particulate matter (SPM) exposure to the level of 100 ppm
results in headache and reduced mental acuity. The effects are
more pronounced in people with heart, lung or central nervous
system diseases.
To study the chemical composition, particularly of metallic
and non-metallic components of crackers, some samples of
sparklers were analysed at the Bombay Natural History Society
Laboratory, Mumbai. The results showed presence of highly
toxic heavy metals like cadmium and lead in addition to other
metals like copper, manganese, zinc, sodium, magnesium and
potassium in the firecrackers. Firecrackers are generally made
of cardboard or plastic, with flash powder or black powder as
the propellant. This is not always the case, however. Anything
from match heads to lighter fluid has been used successfully
in making firecrackers.
Fireworks need a source of combustible material for energy
such as black powder, a mixture of charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter
(an old name for potassium nitrate), or smokeless powder such
as cellulose nitrate. Carbon is one of the main components of
black powder. Common forms include carbon black, sugar or
starch. In addition, fireworks contain substances that give off
bright, colourful light when heated e.g., barium is used to create
greenish colours in fireworks.
The various chemicals and metals used in crackers have
detrimental health effects. Cadmium causes increased blood
pressure and a disease “Itai – Itai” which makes bones brittle
and leads to multiple fractures. It can damage kidneys, cause
anaemia and also affects nervous system. Lead affects central
nervous system, causes cancer of lungs and kidneys. Young
children can suffer mental retardation and semi-permanent
brain damage. Nitrite exposure causes nausea, vomiting,
coma, fall in blood pressure, rapid pulse, headaches and
visual disturbances. Nitrate in large amounts leads
to dizziness, abdominal cramps, vomiting,
bloody diarrhoea, weakness, convulsions and
increased cancer incidents. Sulphur affects
upper respiratory tract and bronchi. It may
cause oedema of the lungs and can cause
respiratory paralysis. Magnesium particles
embedded in the skin can produce gaseous
blebs and gas gangrene and deterioration in
the central nervous system. Phosphorous in PO 4
affects central nervous system, causes acute effect
on liver and severe eye damage. Copper causes irritation
in respiratory tract. Its excess absorption causes “ Wilson’s
disease” where excess copper is deposited in the brain, skin,
liver, pancreas and middle muscular layer of the heart. Zinc is
a skin irritant and effects pulmonary system. It stimulates the
sensation of vomiting.
Carbon monoxide, one of the oxides of carbon is an extremely
poisonous gas. It combines more than 200 times as readily as
oxygen, so that its low concentration levels have adverse health
effects. Noise generated by these firecrackers too, is catastrophic
to an extent. Most crackers generate more than 80 dB noise
that can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss, high
blood pressure, heart attack and sleep disturbances. Children,
pregnant women and those suffering from respiratory problems
suffer the most due to excessive noise. It results in making them
hyperactive or withdrawn.
Hopefully, this article will provide our readers a deep insight to
the potential threat which this festival possesses along with the
glee. It now depends on our perspective how vigilant we are
towards our environment and obviously our health. The demand
of the time is to make rational and judicious usage of crackers
on ‘Diwali’, the festival of lights as they do not extend the pride
of this festival rather they mitigate its magnificence.