Air pollution created by fire-crackers can cause respiratory problems

By Vikas Vaidya

In a new study conducted by Pune-based Chest Research Foundation (CRF) along with Dr Rohan Shah and Dhammasagar Ujagare, postgraduate-students of Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences from University of Pune, levels of Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) were measured and compared during the bursting of 6 most commonly used fire-crackers, viz: fulzhadi, anar, chakri, laad, the snake tablet and pulpul. PM2.5 are very tiny particles (less than 2.5 microns in diameter) present in smoke that have the ability to reach the deeper portions of the lung and cause damaging effects.
Dr Sneha Limaye, Senior Scientist from CRF who supervised the study, said, “If we know which are the most harmful fireworks in terms of PM2.5 air pollution, then we can advice people to avoid bursting these fire crackers.”
All the 6 different types of fire crackers were burst 5 times each individually in an area that simulated the front portion of a house area. Sufficient time was given between the bursting of different types of fire crackers for the levels of PM2.5 to be washed away. PM2.5 levels were measured using Thermo PDR 1200, USA, a light scattering photometer that counts the number of particles and converts them into mass, which are then expressed as mcg/m3. The inbuilt data logger records minute-by-minute levels of PM2.5 over the duration of the study. All the fire crackers were kept at a distance that one would normally keep, for example, the fulzadi was kept at a distance of 1 feet, while the laad and anar was kept at a distance of 6 feet.
The snake tablet, which is popular with the children, produced the highest amount of PM2.5, followed by the laad, pulpul, fulzadi, chakri and anar. Although the snake tablet burnt for only 0.2 minutes (9 seconds), it produced the highest peak of PM2.5 (64,500 mcg/m3) and the high levels of PM2.5 lasted for 3 minutes, while the laad which burnt for 0.8 minutes produced high levels of PM2.5 for 6 minutes and a peak of 38,540 mcg/m3. The snake, laad and pulpul were the top three PM2.5 producers, while the anar produced the lowest amount of PM2.5 compared to the others. We do not know why the anar produced the lowest levels, but it could be because the levels of PM2.5 were measured at a height of 3 feet and a distance of 6 feet, while the smoke PM2.5 from the anar could be directed at a much higher distance, or there is better combustion of the fire-powder in the anar than other fireworks.
Bursting of firecrackers produces both gaseous as well as particulate matter air pollution. Both are harmful for the lungs, eyes, nose and the heart. The extremely high levels of air pollutants generated during the bursting of firecrackers cause worsening of asthma, allergic diseases of the eyes and nose, respiratory tract infections, pneumonias and heart attacks, said Dr Sundeep Salvi, the Director of CRF.
Dr Rajesh Swarnakar , Consultant Lungs Specialist who is also Advisory Board member of Respiratory Research Network of India (RRNI) who takes up such Investigator initiated research on Respiratory health topics said, “Bursting of crackers has taken a toll on environmental pollution. Patients suffering from allergy, asthma and COPD should absolutely stay indoors on Diwali night as risk of getting attack of breathlessness is at the highest on exposure of this cracker's smoke. Those who are keen on bursting  firecrackers should absolutely avoid snake and ladis crackers or those can be burst in open grounds to help wind clear the pollution fast. Air flow and ventilation has tremendous impact in clearing the pollution. It took only 3.2 minute for these high readings of air pollution to return to baselines.