With each passing year, the evidence of air pollution’s detrimental effects on children becomes more undeniable. As we prepare for another festive season, it is essential to explore sustainable alternatives to firecrackers and implement stricter regulations on their use. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports a significant rise in PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels during Diwali every year.
In 2023, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to a hazardous level, with PM 2.5 concentrations reaching 999 µg/m3 in some areas – nearly 40 times the safe limit. Children who spend hours outdoors playing with firecrackers during this period face the highest risk, with immediate effects such as eye irritation, throat infections, and increased respiratory distress.
Public Awareness Campaigns
As per Global Initiative for Asthma Report 2024 (GINA), Asthma is a serious problem, affecting approximately 300 million people around the world, and causing 1000 per day. Rates among children have been rising alarmingly, especially in polluted urban areas.
A study conducted by Lung care Foundation “Link between air pollution and obesity, asthma and allergic diseases” revealed that children from Delhi suffer more, this was also the first study which revealed that there is a link between asthma allergic disease and obesity with air pollution.
Additional research papers have shown in their studies that approximately 10% of children in India are affected by asthma, a rate that spikes during the winter months, which coincide with the Dussehra and Diwali celebrations.
One of the most effective ways to combat the health crisis caused by air pollution is through public awareness campaigns. Parents, schools, and communities must be educated on the dangers of air pollution, especially during festival seasons, and encouraged to adopt eco-friendly alternatives such as light displays or digital fireworks.
Government Policies and Enforcement
While some states have introduced restrictions on firecracker sales, these measures need stronger enforcement. In cities like Delhi, where air quality plummets during Diwali, there have been initiatives to ban or reduce the use of firecrackers. However, a more consistent approach, including implementing fines and promoting the use of “green” firecrackers, is needed to mitigate the harmful effects on children’s health.
Protecting Children Indoors
There are various studies which prove that children exposed to higher levels of air pollution had lower IQ scores and faced difficulties with memory retention and learning abilities.
Parents can take steps to protect children from air pollution by limiting outdoor activities during periods of high pollution and using air purifiers indoors. Additionally, the use of face masks can reduce exposure to harmful particulate matter when children need to be outdoors during the festival season.
In conclusion, The DFCA Network through its Jalandhar Forum for Clean Air urges the communities and policymakers in the city, state and country to address this critical issue.The festive season brings joy and celebration, but it also highlights a growing public health crisis that adversely affects children.
With rising asthma rates and the significant impact of air pollution on cognitive development, it is clear that urgent action is needed. The tradition of bursting firecrackers, though culturally significant, comes at a severe cost to children’s health. As communities, parents, and policymakers, we must prioritise the health and well-being of the next generation by embracing cleaner, safer alternatives to our celebrations.
As we move forward, the question remains: Will we continue to celebrate at the expense of our children’s future, or will we embrace a healthier, more sustainable way to honour our traditions?
Author: Dr. P.S Bakshi, Honorary President of the Doctors for Clean Air and Climate Action (DFCA), Punjab.
About Lung Care Foundation | Doctors for Clean Air and Climate Action:
Lung Care Foundation is a Guinness World Record-holding social impact trust dedicated to promoting lung health in India. We are developing lung health services and advocating for clean air by highlighting the health ill-effects of Air Pollution, Dust, Smoking, and Poor Lifestyles.
Since our inception in May 2015, We have been working in India and across the Globe with Government stakeholders, UN Bodies, policymakers, NGOs, civil society organisations, and think tanks. We have a nationwide presence through a network of Doctors, trained and committed to advocate for Clean Air and Climate Action.
Doctors for Clean Air and Climate Action (DFCA) is a network of passionate and informed doctors leading the fight against Air Pollution. Doctors for Clean Air and Climate Action (DFCA), was launched on December 4, 2018, bringing together more than 40 senior doctors representing every state of the country.
These doctors took the social responsibility to become champions of clean air and climate action by highlighting the health ill-effects of air pollution and promoting viable solutions. Top office bearers of 21 leading National Medical Associations, representing over 3 lakh specialist doctors in India, joined the program and committed themselves to this cause.
