Pune: ‘Green’ firecrackers widely available, doctors contest usefulness

What are greenish firecrackers?
According to the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, green crackers indispensable person a simplification successful size of shell, elimination of ash usage, reduced usage of earthy materials successful the composition, and/or usage of additives arsenic particulate suppressants to trim particulate matter, SO2, and NO2 emissions.

This indispensable pb to a minimum particulate substance simplification of 30% oregon a minimum of particulate substance simplification of 20% and 10% oregon much gaseous emanation reduction, compared to regular crackers. These ‘green firecrackers’ besides person types similar SWAS (safe h2o releaser), SAFAL (safe minimal aluminium) and STAR (safe thermite cracker).

Availability of greenish firecrackers
Owner of Sahakar Nagar Fataka Mart Prasad Dashrath said, “Only greenish crackers mandated by the authorities are disposable with us. I don’t adjacent cognize wherever I would find non-green firecrackers to sell.”

Stating that consciousness and request among the nationalist astir greenish fire-crackers was low, Dashrath said, “No 1 specifically asks america for greenish crackers, radical lone attraction astir which crackers volition person a amended explosion. But each of our firecrackers are green.” Similarly, astir each the firecrackers astatine Sejal Fataka Mart adjacent Shri Omkareshwar Temple were from brands similar Anil and Supreme, and had a ‘green fireworks’ certification from Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, Nagpur.

Owner of the mart Nilesh Dadhave said the store was attracting 300 customers regular but hardly 10% of customers enquire astir eco-friendly fireworks. Nearby, the MNS fataka stall besides had lone greenish firecrackers. However, hardly 20-30% of customers specifically enquired astir them, according to the owner.

Doctors contention effectiveness of greenish firecrackers
Pulmonologist Dr. Aparna Birajdar, who runs her ain session and is simply a advisor doc astatine the Sahyadri Hospital, said, “We spot a 20-30% summation successful respiratory issues during Diwali. If greenish crackers person conscionable a 30% simplification successful pollution, past they are not precise useful. In the foggy acold upwind successful winter, I don’t deliberation it makes overmuch of a difference. I person not seen immoderate quality successful my patients’ wellness owed to these ‘green’ crackers.”

Holding akin views, advisor pulmonologist astatine Ruby Hall Clinic Dr Sneha Tirpude said, “I don’t consciousness greenish firecrackers are utile successful controlling pollution. In the quest of promoting greenish crackers implicit mean crackers, much greenish firecrackers are lit up, which ends up creating adjacent amounts of pollution. It is akin to the cigaret vs e-cigarette debate. E-cigarettes mightiness person little nicotine per-puff, but you extremity up smoking much of them starring to the full sum being more.”