Diwali 2024: Know this before you burst firecrackers

As Diwali or any other festival approaches several people burst firecrackers as part of the celebration However this can have adverse effects on manyNoise pollution is a significant environmental concern that often goes unnoticed yet it poses serious risks to human and animal health As the use of firecrackers increases so do the decibel levels leading to several harmful effectsSumaira Abdulali an environmentalist and founder of the NGO Awaaz Foundation highlights the detrimental effects of noise on animals Stray animals pets and wildlife can experience fear and disorientation due to loud sounds disrupting their natural behaviours and habitatsShe notes ldquoThe forest department until recently used firecrackers specifically for the purpose of frightening wild elephants who had strayed out of forests into returning A recent study of hundreds of animals showed that all animals are affected and even caterpillarsrsquo heartbeats speed up with loud noiserdquoThe Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme has also pointed out that noise pollution contributes to species loss she addsWhen asked about changes in noise pollution levels during festive season celebrations compared to previous years Abdulali informs that after extensive testing by Awaaz and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board ldquoThe decibel level of the loudest firecrackers has reduced significantly Nevertheless they continue to be in a range which is unsafe for humans and noisy crackers are often used simultaneously in large numbers during various celebrationsrdquoAccording to her India ranks among the noisiest countries globally with traffic construction and various celebrations contributing to high noise levelsldquoFirecrackers are the source which has the loudest decibel levels They are used during various types of celebrations including Diwali New Year victory celebrations of cricket matches and political results birthdays etc When firecrackers are burst they elevate the already high noise levels and often cross limits permissible for human healthrdquo she saidHealth professionals Dr Adip Shetty ENT Surgeon Lilavati Hospital and Dr Ravina Shetty ENT Zynova Shalby Hospital from Mumbai discuss the range of adverse effects associated with noise pollution These can include temporary irritability and headaches as well as longterm issues such as anxiety and hearing loss Vulnerable groups such as children the elderly and individuals with preexisting health conditions are particularly at riskldquoExtreme headache anxiety stress tinnitus ringing in the ears difficulty in sleeping dramatic mood swings unable to concentrate high blood pressure and hearing lossrdquo explains Dr Ravina on serious consequences of noise pollutionDr Adip advises those experiencing hearing loss after exposure to loud noises to undergo an audiogram and speech discrimination tests He also recommends to ldquouse ear plugs or cotton to reduce the sound exposurerdquoAccording to a report compiled by Repository Living Sciences using data from 18 stations in Mumbai the air pollution PM25 on Diwali day reduced by 1786 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022 but remained above the safe levelWhile the report shows a positive change it is important to note that a majority of stations recorded PM25 above 60 which presents a dire picture Also read Diwali 2024 Diwali 2024 Is a ban and other regulations on firecrackers effective in curbing air pollution