Pollution levels at an all time high: Why you should have given crackers a miss this Diwali

Diwali a festival of lights, good food, gifts and all things merry unfortunately comes with the baggage of toxic fireworks and consequently health complications for your kids and your pets. Over the last few years, the levels of particulate matter in the atmosphere have only become worse, posing a great threat to your health. Here are five reasons why you should reconsider lighting that cracker: Make Diwali merry for animals too

Every year, hundreds of stray animals are injured and many go missing, terrified of the unending noise from firecrackers. The loud sound of crackers and the sight of fire make dogs panic and flee often causing them to meet with road accidents. And it’s not just your domestic pets. Even birds, highly sensitive to sound and light, fear the sound and the fumes that fireworks produce. [caption id=“attachment_1764263” align=“alignnone” width=“620”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Stop encouraging child labour   Almost 90 percent of your fireworks comes from a place called Sivakasi, in Tamil Nadu, that has been notorious for employing children in its firework units. Last year, licenses of 17 units were cancelled when during a surprise raid children below the age of 14 were found working in the highly toxic environment. In May last year, an explosion at Meenakshi Fireworks, caused the death of an 11-year-old boy. Many children suffer severe burn injuries but are forced to continue working. A threat to your health and those around you [caption id=“attachment_1768665” align=“alignnone” width=“620”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Fireworks contain heavy metals, acids and carcinogenic compounds which can have an effect on your health. Such toxic fumes are bound to cause you cardiovascular diseases, respiratory health effects such as asthma and bronchitis, and can even cause reproductive and developmental effects, posing a threat to pregnant women. Doctors have reported an increase in cases of breathing ailments during Diwali due to the high level of pollution that one tends to breathe in inadvertently. Pollution, pollution, pollution [caption id=“attachment_1764281” align=“alignnone” width=“620”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Besides causing serious health issues, fireworks and the toxic fumes that they emit, pose a threat to the environment. Firecrackers contain chemicals such as potassium nitrate, carbon and sulphur, that on burning, causes the emission of Co2 - the largest contributor to global warming. Besides, the use of fireworks only adds to the mounting waste management problems our country is already reeling under. While India does have legislation on what levels and types of chemicals are allowed in fireworks, a large part of the industry in unregularised. Moreover, fireworks are often smuggled in from outside the country from places where manufacturers do not meet the prescribed standards. Save that money for something brighter?  With legislation getting tougher, firework manufacturing companies have only been increasing the cost of fireworks every year. Consequently, the exorbitant use for fireworks has also been seen as a social status symbol, where one is trying to outdo the other. It would, perhaps, make much more sense to use that money to help someone underprivileged with something meaningful this Diwali that will truly brighten up their life and not just for a few seconds like a firecracker.