Diwali is here along with its festivities that not only include delicious food and drink, but also the firecrackers, which have become an inseparable part of the celebrations. Unfortunately, even as the experience of lighting them brings out the inner child in us, they affect our health in more than one way. They not only bring with them the noise pollution that startle animals, but also the smoke that actually has adverse effects on people’s health, and makes it worse for those with pre-existing respiratory problems.

Mumbai doctors say they aren’t the only ones affected during this time of the year, but it is also the children, who have lungs that are still growing, but also the elderly and pregnant women, who are also vulnerable during this time of the year.