The Ill-Effects of Firecrackers

One of them, the more scientific one, is that the fumes produced by the crackers would kill insects and mosquitoes found after the rains. Today, simple sparklers have iven way to elaborate fireworks that can li ht up the entire sky above your home. !nfortunately the fumes that these crackers produce are harmful to the the environment and us. "opper# "auses irritation in the respiratory tract. "admium# $educes the o%y en carryin capacity of blood, leadin to anaemia. &ead# &ead in the body has a harmful effect on the nervous system. 'a nesium# 'a nesium fumes cause a condition known as metal fume fever. (inc# "auses metal fume fever and also induces vomitin . )odium# )odium is a hi hly reactive element and combines with moisture to cause burns.

FI$E"$*"+E$) *FFE"T O!$ ,E*&T, The burstin of crackers durin -iwali is primarily responsible for an increase in concentration of dust and pollutants. The fine dust that settles after burstin crackers is rich in pollutants like o%ides of sulphur and nitro en, metal dust and or anic pollutants. Even the tiny sparklers, torches and flower pots which are otherwise considered to create no noise at all enerate thick smoke that can affect the respiratory tract of youn children. The suspended particulate matter .)/'0 levels rise si nificantly durin -iwali. This causes throat, nose and eye related problems which can later develop into adverse health issues. Firecrackers have much more severe effects in people with heart, respiratory or nervous system disorders. They can a ravate problems for people sufferin from colds, aller ies or cou hs and can also cause con estion of the throat and chest. They can also cause water contamination and acid rains. They result in air pollution that creates carcino enic )ulphur compounds and airborne arsenic effect.

The reen li ht produced in fireworks displays comes from barium, which is radioactive and poisonous. The blue colour produced from copper compounds comes from dio%ins linked to cancer.

FI$E"$*"+E$) *FFE"T T,E E12I$O1'E1T Fire ,a3ards# )ometimes rockets set fire to huts, heaps of dry rass and even houses. 1oise /ollution# Firecrackers make more noise than the allowed decibel limit. *ir /ollution# )mo caused by firecrackers is harmful when inhaled. It also causes reduced visibility.The "entral /ollution "ontrol 4oard of India has also banned firecrackers with a decibel level of more than 567 at a distance of 8mts from the burstin point.

FI$E"$*"+E$) *FFE"T *1I'*&) The sound of burstin crackers can be quite traumatic to pets, as they cannot bear loud sounds. 9e know that do s have an incredible hearin ability and they can detect sounds that cannot be heard by human bein s. )hakuntala 'a:umdar, /resident of the Thane )ociety for /rotection of "ruelty to *nimals .)/"*0 says, ;Their actual frequency ran e is <=,3 to 87k,3 as compared to the human ear>s ran e of 6?k,3. Thus firecrackers with low decibels can affect their temperament.;

-id @ou +now# 'ost fireworks are made by factories that employ children as labourers. These youn children are forced to handle the to%ic substances that o into these firecrackers. *s a result, they contract diseases associated with these substances. &imited access to medical aid means that many of them die in their teens. /$E"*!TIO1) @O! 1EE- TO T*+E Try to avoid use of firecrackers. !se firecrackers that are less noisy. -o not try to li ht a firecracker in your hand.

,O9 TO /$OTE"T @O!$ /ET

Take your pet to a vet if heAshe is a over-sensitive. The doctor may ive your pet some anti-an%iety dru s to reduce hisAher fear. "reate a safe place for the pet to hide from fri htenin noises such as under the bed. Try to distract your pets with any activity that keeps them occupied. Their favourite ame or a chew toy can help.