New Delhi:
Diwali, the festival of lights, is a festival of noise and smoke in Delhi, thanks to the extensive use of firecrackers that adds tonnes of toxic smoke to the city's air.
According to System of Air Quality, Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), an agency of the Ministry of Earth Science, pollution levels in the national capital are expected to be "severe" on Diwali night. Those with heart and lung diseases have been advised to stay indoors.
In South Delhi, the PM (particulate matter) 2.5 matter 2.5 on an average measures 230 micrograms per cubic metres. After bursting an Anaar, we measured PM 2.5 in the same area using a dust track machine and saw the reading going up as high as 7000 mg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre).
At the same place, when we lit a sparkle (phooljadi), the reading went up as high as 14000 mg/m3. These levels are much higher than the permissible level of 60mg/m3.
Environment activists say breathing toxic air on Diwali can be compared to smoking 10 cigarettes at one time. "One phooljadi can raise the level to anything between 8000- 14000 mg/m3. On Diwali while thousands of Firecrackers are being burst, we inhale carcinogenic air that is equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes at one time," said Varun Aggarwal, director of Care for Air.
While most people believe that noisiest crackers are the most polluting, experts say phuljadis cause the most harm because they are held closer.
Anumita Roy, Executive Director Centre for Science and Environment, says colourful sparkles comprise of many toxic chemicals and stresses on the need for the government to impose a blanket ban on fireworks in Delhi.