Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s most celebrated festivals symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It is marked by lighting diyas, sharing sweets, and celebrating with family and friends.
As Delhi prepares for Diwali celebrations, a senior lung specialist has issued a cautionary note. He reminds that, although “green crackers” have been formally permitted by the Supreme Court of India for use in the National Capital Region, they are not free of pollution or health risk.
Green firecrackers are fireworks developed under the supervision of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) in India. Their design uses smaller shells, reduced raw-material load, additives to suppress smoke and dust, and aims to lower emissions compared with traditional firecrackers. Laboratory testing suggests approximately 20–30 % lower particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants in ideal conditions.
Dr S. Chatterjee, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at the Apollo Hospitals in Delhi, told ANI that while green crackers reduce pollution in comparison to older varieties, they still produce harmful emissions. He emphasised that “they are not free of pollution” and pointed out that in the Delhi-NCR region even a 30 % reduction from green crackers may be inadequate given the heavy background pollution levels.
He specifically warned people with respiratory illnesses—such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or COPD—that even limited cracker use may trigger worsening of their condition. Symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and reduced lung function may occur in the hours or days after fireworks -borne emissions.
Several factors contribute to the residual health risk of green crackers:
The emissions reduction estimate (e.g., ~30 %) is based on controlled testing, not always replicable in real-world large-scale use. In high volumes of bursting, the cumulative pollutant load remains substantial.
Enforcement of certified “green” crackers is uneven; reports indicate counterfeit or non-certified fireworks can still enter the market.
Pollution background in Delhi during late October and early November is already high due to dust, traffic, stubble burning and meteorological conditions; any additional emissions exacerbate risk.
Vulnerable individuals—children, the elderly, people with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular disease—have lower thresholds for trigger events and may respond cumulatively to even modest additional exposure.
From a pulmonary-health perspective, increased seasonal pollution associated with Diwali leads to measurable increases in hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiac events. Even if a single cracker event seems minor, the aggregate impact can strain health-care resources and worsen chronic disease outcomes.
Given this, Dr Chatterjee advised that individuals with existing health conditions should avoid firecracker exposure altogether, including green crackers. For healthy individuals, he recommended using them minimally, ideally outdoors in well-ventilated areas, staying away from direct smoke and ensuring children remain at a safe distance.
The Supreme Court has set conditions for the sale and use of green crackers in Delhi-NCR: licensed trading, QR-coded packaging, specified hours of bursting (typically 6 am–7 am and 8 pm–10 pm on allowed days), and enforcement of bans on conventional firecrackers.
However, experts say regulatory compliance is challenging. Some studies show that even certified green crackers still contain significant levels of heavy metals and ultrafine particles when tested under field conditions.
For the general public, health-care providers suggest the following practical steps for safer Diwali enjoyment:
Avoid bursting crackers near children, elderly or people with lung/heart disease.
Prefer outdoor locations with good air circulation, away from enclosed spaces.
Use protective eyewear and masks if immediate exposure is unavoidable.
After exposure, watch for symptoms such as persistent cough, airway irritation or worsening breathlessness, and seek prompt medical attention.
Consider smoke-free or alternative celebration options (e.g., light displays, safe alternatives) especially in high-pollution zones.
While green firecrackers represent a technological advance and regulatory shift away from older high-pollution fireworks, they are not risk-free. In a city like Delhi with already compromised air quality, even modest additions of particulate and gaseous emissions can impact public health, particularly among susceptible groups.
(Rh/eth/TL)
