Dipannita Das, TNN Nov 13, 2012, 05.56AM IST
PUNE: Common firecrackers like sparklers and flower pots are less
noisy, but owe their special effects to the heavy metal content in them
which are not just harmful to the environment, but when inhaled cause
health problems. Noisy crackers do not have heavy metal content.
Inhaling the oxides of heavy metals can cause 'oxidant stress,' which is
the baseline for asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer.
Children and elderly people are more vulnerable. The cold weather
aggravates the problem, as it remains stagnant in the air for a longer
time, he added.
A test conducted by NGO Awaaz Foundation recently showed that of the 17
firecrackers had heavy metal content, only three had the details on
their cover boxes. Most manufacturers do not mention the chemical
content and the few who do list it, do it inaccurately.
Firecrackers with heavy metal content were found in four colour
sparklers, multicolour pots, green flowerpots, red flowerpots, mirinda
sparkler, vulcano rassi bombs, electric crackers, musical mala, star
plus sparklers, shooting star, pink sparklers, seven shots, crackling
king, green rassi bomb, aerial out, golden cherry and blue rain.
Sumaira Abdulali, convenor of Awaaz Foundation, told TOI that all
firecrackers tested are available in the market but the content is not
mentioned on the covers. "Only a few boxes have the content mentioned
but it was either incorrect or not accurate. All these heavy metals have
been banned under the hazardous chemicals Act,'' she said.
According to a Supreme Court order, no cracker may exceed 125 decibel
and the chemical composition of all crackers must be displayed on the
packaging. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) is
supposed to address some requirements of the Indian fireworks industry
like development of environment friendly fireworks, study of nature of
chemical composition and contrivance, quality control and quality
assurance, testing of raw materials, among others.
Abdulali
said,We believe that less noisy firecrackers are safe. But sparklers,
anara and multicolour pots, have a maximum content of heavy metals that
give the colour. Bombs have less content of heavy metals,'' she said.
Dr Sandeep Salvi, director of Chest Research Foundation, said heavy
metals are harmful for the environment and cause health problems.
Inhaling the smoke for long can impact one's health. It can affect the
kidney, lung system and cause respiratory issues, he said.
When
crackers are lit, they produce different oxides of heavy metals that are
harmful for lungs and get absorbed into the circulation and affect
other organs of the body. It can also get deposited in the brain and
kidney,'' he said.
Chest Research Foundation had tested
firecrackers and the level of pollutants in Kothrud four years ago and
found that sulphur dioxide level in the air was 200 times more that the
WHO limit. The level was found to be 5.5 ppm (parts per million),
whereas the limit is 0.02 ppm. The oxides of calcium and magnesium in
air are very high during Diwali.
Hence, a majority of people
complain of respiratory problems. They complain of cough, irritation in
the eyes and nose and wheezing. The more smoke one inhales, one is more
prone to these health problems,'' said Dr Salvi.
Gufran Beig, senior scientist at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune said heavy metals are highly carcinogenic.
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