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No firecrackers could be classified as green: NGO

Tests by Awaaz Foundation finds banned lead chemical in 14 of 36 samples

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Based on an independent testing report of the chemical contents in 36 different kinds of firecrackers available in the market, Awaaz Foundation, an NGO, has alleged that all of them were unsafe for human health as they contained hazardous and toxic chemicals, which also meant none of the crackers could be classified as 'green' at the moment.

Incidentally, out of the 36 firecrackers tested it was found that chemical lead, which was banned from being used in firecracker by the Supreme Court in July 2017, was found in 14 samples including bombs and some series crackers. Lead was rated as among the top 10 most dangerous and toxic chemical by World Health Organisation (WHO).

Concerned over the results of the tests carried out in an independent lab by Awaaz Foundation whose report has been made public, Sumaira Abdulali, Convenor of the NGO wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Thursday, seeking his intervention. As per the tests, all the firecrackers contain chemicals listed in Schedule I Part II 'List of Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals' of the "Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules 1989" of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC).

"Apart from lead, there are chemicals like Chlorine, Sulphur along with many others that cause serious health hazards and air pollution. Unfortunately, there are no proper 'toxicity level' warnings for the buyers on the boxes," she stated adding that the test results also highlighted that all firecracker manufacturers were violating the 2005 Supreme Court guidelines as there were several discrepancies in mentioning the chemical composition of firecrackers on the boxes. Criticising the role of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) which along with Awaaz Foundation carries out testing of firecrackers annually, Abdulali said that for several years MPCB has carried out testing for the chemical content of firecrackers but the results have never been made public. "We are waiting for the chemical analysis report being done by our lab based on which we will be sending our observations to PESO, which is the nodal agency," he said.

UNSOUND FINDINGS

Hazardous chemicals like lead, Chlorine, Sulphur etc. were found 

36 Number of crackers tested

14 Lead found in the number of crackers

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