The air caused by crackers increase Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrate compounds thus causing respiratory issues irritation and long-term problems
The Supreme Court ban on firecrackers has come as a boon for those who suffer from respiratory illnesses as they hope there will be less particulate matter in the air as compared to last year, when PM 2.5 (particulates with diameter less than 2.5 mm) level had gone up to 883 micrograms per cubic metre, much higher than its safe limit ie, 60 micrograms per cubic metre.
While some non-asthmatics crib over not being able to buy crackers this year, DNA looks at how different components in the crackers affect body organs and have long-term harmful effects on the body.
"There are many heavy metals in the firecrackers and by the nature of being explosive, these elements not just cause pollution, but affect body organs too when inhaled. Though most workers in the firecracker factories used to get affected by these components due to constant exposure, these days the pollutants in the air caused by crackers increase Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrate compounds thus causing respiratory issues, irritation, and long-term problems," says Dr Vikas Maurya, Senior Consultant, Pulmonologist, Fortis Healthcare.
AIIMS is currently working on a study focused on the effects of air pollution, funded by Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR, along with Lady Hardinge Medical College, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, and Vallabh Bhai Patel Chest Institute. The study by four centres, which started with a survey in July 2017, will also focus on the emergency admissions due to air pollution during weather change and Diwali. The study will release the one year trend in July next year.
"It is a regular phenomenon to see an increased number of patients with respiratory ailments especially elderly and children. There is an increased rush in OPDs and Emergency every year. It has also been observed that patients with no past records of asthma may also find themselves showing similar problems including wheezing," says Dr Karan Madan, Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, AIIMS.
COMPONENTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE BODY WHEN INHALED
Aluminium Affects skin condition; accumulates within the body and becomes a cause of Alzheimer’s disease
Lead Dioxide/Chloride Physical and mental growth in infants and unborn children
Arsenic Causes lung cancer and skin conditions
Mercury Accumulates within the body and affects nervous system
Copper Compounds Hormonal Imbalance
Barium Nitrate Muscular weakness
Cadmium Gastrointestinal problems
Potassium Nitrate Causes lung cancer
Nitric Oxide Reacts withlung tissues
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