When the lights fade out
- POSTED ON: 3 Nov, 2017
- TOTAL VIEWS: 917 Views
- POSTED BY: Megha Agarwal | The Hindu Young World
- ARTICLE POINTS: 100 Points
Over the last several years, Deepavali has become synonymous with air pollution. Air quality monitoring stations across the country routinely report poor air quality with dangerous levels of particulate matter after the celebrations.
The primary culprits behind this problem are fireworks such as rockets, phuljhadis, anars, chakris and ladis that have become an essential part of the Deepavali celebrations. Fireworks contain a cocktail of chemicals and when they’re burnt, these chemicals combust and release various pollutants and particulate matter into the air.
Since Deepavali usually falls at the onset of winter, the misty air becomes a magnet for pollutants and particulate matter, leading to thick smog. Exposure to this smoke-filled air often causes a burning sensation in the eyes, rashes on the skin, shortness of breath and a host of respiratory illnesses as pollution enters the body and clogs the airways.
Many places in Delhi reported a slight improvement in air quality because of the fireworks ban and several other cities plan to impose a similar ban next Deepavali. However, the issue of air pollution needs wide-ranging, long-term steps. Banning fireworks is only a short-term solution.