What is the issue?
- Supreme Court has recently banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
- But research on crackers & its impact is lacking in the country.
How has CPCB’s position been?
- In 2016, a great smog enveloped Delhi for days after Diwali.
- SC mandated the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Ministry of Environment, to study the effects of firecrackers.
- CPCB noted that the competence for such a study lies with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) - the explosives regulator under the Commerce Ministry.
- It nevertheless did review existing literature on the subject and put together a summary.
- It listed the health impacts of fireworks, delved into the chemical processes involved, and the toxic substances that are released.
What is the Chemistry of fireworks?
- Explosive fireworks depend on four primary ingredients — oxidiser, fuel, colouring agents & binder.
- The oxidisers in fireworks are chemicals that release oxygen to allow the explosion to take place. Ex: Nitrates, chlorates.
- The fuel for burning is usually charcoal.
- Colouring agents impart desired colours like aluminium compounds for brilliant whites, barium nitrate for greens.
- Binders are used to hold the mixture of the firework together in a paste while burning.
- Also, other metals like titanium & strontium are added to regulate the speed of the burning reaction.
What are the existing guidelines?
- Currently, guidelines exist four types of explosive firecrackers — atom bombs, Chinese crackers, garland crackers and maroons.
- The guidelines for these were drawn up by PESO in 2008 after the Supreme Court ordered it to regulate regarding their composition.
- According to these guidelines, the sulphur, nitrate & aluminium power contents must not exceed 20%, 57%, & 24% respectively.
- In July 2016 the SC ordered that no firecrackers shall contain antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead.
What are the studies that establish health risks?
- Studies in Europe, Canada and China have established links between fireworks bursting and variations in air quality.
- A 2014 study on ‘Impact of Fireworks on Respiratory Health’, in India, showed an increased risk of asthma & cancers due to crackers.
- A 2007 study published in ‘Atmospheric Environment’ magazine established that children were at a greater risk due to cracker enhanced particulate matter in the air.
Source: Indian Express
