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Toxic Material in Firecrackers

Posted on September 30, 2021 by admin1  2539

In News

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) lamented the rampant violation of its ban on use of toxic ingredients in the firecracker industry.

About

  • The Supreme Court highlighted the findings of preliminary enquiry by the CBI into the firecracker industry, including in Tamil Nadu.
  • A chemical analysis of the samples of finished and semi-finished firecrackers and raw materials taken from the manufacturers showed Barium content.
  • The court stated that loose quantities of Barium were purchased from the market. 
  • Firecracker covers did not show the manufacture or expiry dates.
  • The Supreme Court told the firecracker manufacturers that the right to life of innocent citizens was more precious than the right to employment of workers.

Image Courtesy: TH

Chemistry of fireworks

  • Explosive fireworks depend on four primary ingredients — 
    • oxidiser, 
    • fuel, 
    • colouring agents & 
    • Binder.

Image Courtesy: ET 

  • The oxidisers in fireworks are chemicals that release oxygen to allow the explosion to take place. Ex: Nitrates, chlorates.
  • The fuel for burning is usually charcoal.
  • Colouring agents impart desired colours like aluminium compounds for brilliant whites, barium nitrate for greens.
  • Binders are used to hold the mixture of the firework together in a paste while burning.
  • Also, other metals like titanium & strontium are added to regulate the speed of the burning reaction.

Image Courtesy: ET 

 

Existing Guidelines

  • Currently, guidelines exist for four types of explosive firecrackers — atom bombs, Chinese crackers, garland crackers and maroons.
  • The guidelines for these were drawn by PESO in 2008 after the Supreme Court ordered it to regulate their composition.
  • According to these guidelines, the sulphur, nitrate & aluminium power contents must not exceed 20%, 57%, & 24% respectively.
  • In July 2016 the SC ordered that no firecrackers shall contain antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead.

Image Courtesy: ET 

Benefits of Banning Toxic Firecrackers

  • Eco-Friendly Diwali-  Lesser Air Pollution
  • Lesser Noise Pollution
  • Lesser diseases
  • Lesser Clutter Post-Diwali
  • Lesser Accidents
  • Avoiding Inhuman Conditions of Workers
  • Fewer Disturbances to Animals and Birds
  • Fewer Chinese Products
  • Money Savings

Challenges

  • Sale and manufacture regulation
  • Behavioral change amongst people
  • Regulating time for bursting
  • Making switch by industry towards improved or green crackers

 

Way Forward

  • There should be a balance between employment, unemployment and the right to life and health of citizens. 
  • Lives of many can not be sacrificed for a few. 
  • The  prime focus should be the right to life of innocent people.

What are Green Crackers?

  • The SC identifies usable crackers in two categories: 
    • Improved crackers:
      • Improved crackers are those which avoid the use of ash as filler material (to reduce PM emission by 15-20 per cent) and usage of charcoal within the limitation that Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) prescribes.  
    • Green crackers: 
      • Green crackers are safe water and air sprinklers that emit less sound and light. 
      • They also ensure a PM reduction of 30-35 per cent and reduction in NOx and SO2 due to in-situ water generation acting as dust suppressant. 
      • These also cost less owing to usage of low cost oxidants. 
    • The judgment (of promoting Green Cracker) may prove to be a great initiative towards setting new standards for manufacture of firecrackers and spreading awareness about firecracker emissions. 
    • Implementing this would remain a challenge, seeing how authorities are still struggling with noise standards for crackers despite laws being formulated for the same in 1999. This may also make industries switch to cleaner crackers.

Source: TH

 
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