Chemicals used in crackers and their harmful effects

•    Lead : Affects the central nervous system in humans. When heated it can emit highly toxic fumes. Young children can suffer mental retardation and semi-permanent brain damage by exposure to lead.

•    Magnesium : Inhalation of magnesium dust and fumes can cause metal fume fever. Particles embedded in the skin produce gaseous blebs and gas gangrene. Dangerous fire hazard in the form of dust or flakes when exposed to flames. Poisoning takes the form of progressive deterioration in the central nervous system.

•    Zinc : Pure zinc powder is non-toxic to humans by inhalation but difficulty arises from oxidation (burning), as it emits zinc fumes. It stimulates the sensation of vomiting.

•    Manganese : Toxicity caused by dust or fumes. The main symptoms of exposure are languor, sleepiness, weakness, emotional disturbances, spastic gait and paralysis.

•    Sodium : When heated in air, it emits toxic fumes of sodium oxide. Can cause dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat and moisture.

•    Potassium : Dangerous fire hazard and explosion can occur.

•    Copper : Inhalation of copper dust and fume causes irritation in the respiratory tract. Absorption of excess copper results in "Wilson's disease" in which excess copper is deposited in the brain, skin, liver, pancreas and the myocardium (middle muscular layer in the heart).

•    Cadmium : Its absorption can damage the kidneys and can  cause anaemia. Cadmium causes increased blood pressure and also a disease called "Itai-Itai", which makes bones brittle resulting in multiple fractures.

•    Phosphorous in the form of PO4 : Dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat or chemical reaction. Poison by inhalation, ingestion, skin contact and subcutaneous routes. Ingestion affects the central nervous system. Toxic quantities have an acute effect on the liver and can cause severe eye damage.

•    Sulphur in the form of SO4 : It affects the upper respiratory tract and the bronchi. It may cause edema of the lungs or glottis, and can produce respiratory paralysis. Poison to humans by inhalation. An eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant and corrosive.

•    Nitrate : Highly inflammable and on decomposition they emit highly toxic fumes. The symptoms are dizziness, abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weakness, convulsions and collapse.

•    Nitrite : Large amounts taken by mouth may produce nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, collapse and coma. Repeated small doses can cause a fall in blood pressure, rapid pulse, headaches and visual disturbances. When heated, emit highly toxic fumes of NOx.

Happy diwali...!!! without BURSTING FIRECRACKERS

DO WE WANT TO KILL THESE LOVELY CREATURES BY BURSTING FIRECRACKERS?

• CRACKERS  OR   QUAKERS ?????
•  Did you know that diyas lit on the moonless Diwali night signifies the end of darkness and the beginning of happiness?
•  Do Crackers really “begin happiness???”
•  A recent NDTV study shows, The production pace gets accelerated during September-October in sivakasi to meet the enormous demand during Diwali. To deal with up with the target, thousands of children are employed on casual basis.
•  It takes half a million children in Southern Tamilnadu to make these fireworks round the year. These children earn Rs. 10-15 per DAY for working 15 hours/day. Children of your age are DENIED EDUCATION, FOOD and FREEDOM. They are as equally affected as the children of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Therefore we HAVE TO AVOID these fireworks which have caused a doom in a million lives.
•  School becomes a dream for these children if…… YOU BUY FIRE-CRACKERS…..
•  If humans themselves can’t bear the noise pollution caused by firecrackers, then think about animals who hear SEVEN times more than us…HOW LOUD WOULD FIRECRACKERS BE TO THEM?? Repeatedly as we burst crackers the birds, dogs and cats in the area run away for shelter and when they do not find shelter they get traumatized and some of them DIE due to pressure.……..DO WE WANT TO KILL THESE LOVELY CREATURES BY BURSTING FIRECRACKERS?
•  AIR POLLUTION- A record 30 million people were affected by ASTHMA in India post Diwali last year. Ranging from young children to old people, the smoke causes ASTHMA to everybody. 19 deaths were reported around the country with 6 in Hyderabad alone. Breathing trouble leads to heart congestion and causes death in severe cases. Is it enough??
• Hazardous smoke created from the fireworks can lead to a number of adverse health effects, including heart disturbances, asthma attack, allergies and respiratory illnesses
• Animals & Birds…. An Government survey shows that after firecrackers during Diwali kills 13% of Chennai’s SPARROW population…….
•  With so much negativity added to a celebration, do we really need to burst crackers? We don’t want to make a festival of lights into a festival of Child Labour, Pollution and INSENSITIVITY.. So…… WHAT DO WE DO??????
• Just Avoid Crackers and glow lamps! SIMPLE!! That’s what Deepavali actually means- Row of Lamps!
•  “ Charity begins at home”. Let us not buy crackers and educate our friends about the darker side of this illuminating object.
•  But how can MY contribution be sufficient???
•  Just like “ Every drop makes an ocean ”, every contribution DOES makes Ja difference..!!!  If the Government doesn’t ban Firecrackers, you can just avoid Firecrackers!
•  Taiwan has banned Firecrackers!
•  Sweden then lead the way in 2001!
•  In 2005 Hong Kong also banned Firecrackers!
•  Malaysia followed in 2003!
•  United States in 2007!!!
•  Australia in 2009!
•  In Canada, anyone below 18 can’t burst firecrackers!
• Also by lighting lamps instead of crackers, you are encouraging pottery! This will give employment to rural India!!!

 

Harmful effects of firecrackers during Diwali!

Harmful effects of firecrackers during Diwali!

BAD HEALTH EFFECTS :

•    Sound effects : Normal decibel level for humans is 60 dB. An increase by 10 decibels means double the noise volume and intensity. High decibel level results in restlessness, anger, fidgetiness, impulsive behaviour and over-reaction to situations. Most crackers used have more than 80 dB noise that can cause temporary hearing loss. Noise pollution can cause hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart attack and sleep disturbances.

•    Environmental pollution effects :

(a)    The level of suspended particles in the air increases alarmingly during Diwali, causing eye, throat and nose problems.

(b)    Suspended particulate matter exposure to the level of 100 ppm results in headache and reduced mental acuity. The effects are more pronounced in people with heart, lung or central nervous system diseases.

(c)    Sulphur dioxide is readily soluble and dissolves in the larger airways of the respiratory system. At higher concentrations severe contraction restricts the breathing process.

(d)    Nitrogen dioxide is less soluble and so penetrates to the smaller airways and into the lungs, thereby reducing the intake of oxygen for the body. These cause respiratory allergies like asthma especially to the susceptible population. It causes throat and chest congestion, and are likely to aggravate problems for those already suffering from coughs, colds and allergies.

(e)    Allergic bronchitis, acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, ephysema, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases), allergic rhinitis, larynigitis, sinusitis, pneumonia and common cold increase during this time. Firework is one of the provoking factors for childhood bronchial asthma.
Diwali which has now turned almost to a festival of firing crackers leads to many people getting, many people lose their eyes, some become deaf, animals like dogs and cows don't get place to hide and protect themselves. But still this process is going on. Even a small country like Nepal has banned the use of firecrackers. But, can't we?  A combination of will and public support to limit health and environmental hazards and at the same time maintain memorable traditions, is needed to restore Deepawali to its pristine flavour.