Widespread Sale Of ‘Green’ Firecrackers In Pune
Widespread Sale Of 'Green' Firecrackers In Pune
As Diwali approaches, firecracker sales in Pune are picking up, with many retailers offering so-called “green firecrackers” developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to reduce pollution. These eco-friendly alternatives were created following the Supreme Court’s 2023 directive enforcing the ban on barium and other harmful chemicals. Despite their availability, medical experts remain skeptical about their impact on air quality and public health.
Green firecrackers, as defined by the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, are designed to reduce pollution by minimizing the size of the shell, eliminating ash, and using fewer raw materials. They also incorporate additives to suppress dust and decrease harmful emissions like particulate matter, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Compared to traditional firecrackers, they are expected to reduce particulate emissions by at least 30%, with some variants like SWAS (Safe Water Releaser), SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminum), and STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker) offering further reductions in both particulate and gaseous pollutants.
https://www.neeri.res.in/contents/banner_details/green-crackers/5d81cbedbc313#googtrans(en|en)
According to the information on the CSIR website- CSIR-NEERI has been working since January 2018 for developing new and improved formulations for reducing emissions from fireworks. CSIR-NEERI developed new formulations for reduced emission light and sound emitting crackers (SWAS, SAFAL, STAR) with 30% reduction in particulate matter using Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) as oxidant. Two of the representative samples are given below for illustration:
- A new formulation of light-emitting cracker named ‘STAR Z’ uses 32% potassium nitrate, 40% aluminum powder, 11% aluminum chips, and 17% proprietary additives to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 to 30% as short term target
- Similarly, a new formulation of sound emitting cracker named ‘SWAS’ uses 72% proprietary additive, 16% potassium nitrate oxidizer, 9% aluminum powder, and 3% Sulphur to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 to 30% as short term target
- New formulations based on new oxidizers ,fuel and additives singly or in combination to achieve to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 emissions reduction more than 50% is in progress with encouraging leads
However, despite the claims of reduced pollution, there are concerns raised over the true effectiveness of these firecrackers, particularly during the high pollution period surrounding Diwali. Even with reduced emissions, firecrackers can still contribute to respiratory problems, especially for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.
As the debate over the environmental and health impact of firecrackers continues, Pune residents are being encouraged to consider alternatives and celebrate Diwali in a more eco-friendly manner.
