Sound and Fury: Green Crackers Have Limited Impact on Air and Noise Pollution

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Context: Why in News?

As Delhi NCR prepares for Diwali, questions have emerged regarding the effectiveness of green crackers in controlling air and noise pollution. Despite restrictions on conventional fireworks, concerns persist about the extent to which green crackers can reduce pollution levels.

Key Highlights

• Supreme Court Directions: The Supreme Court has issued directions regulating the use of firecrackers in Delhi NCR. Conventional fireworks face restrictions, while the use of specified green crackers is permitted under certain conditions.
• High PM2.5 Levels During Diwali: During Diwali in 2024, Delhi recorded a 24 hour average PM2.5 concentration of 488 µg/m³. Hourly levels reached a peak of 675 µg/m³, indicating the severity of pollution associated with the festive period.
• Limitations of Green Crackers: Green crackers are developed to lower emissions of selected pollutants compared with conventional fireworks. However, they are not completely pollution-free and may still release particulate matter and other harmful substances.
• Challenges in Certification and Enforcement: Questions have been raised about the reliability of certification and the monitoring of firecracker sales. Conventional fireworks may also be misrepresented or sold as certified green crackers, undermining the intended environmental benefits.
• Multiple Sources of Winter Pollution: Firecracker emissions add to Delhi NCR’s existing pollution burden, which includes vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial pollution, biomass burning and unfavourable meteorological conditions.

Key Concepts

• PM2.5: Fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• Green Crackers: Fireworks developed using modified chemical formulations to reduce certain emissions. Their actual environmental impact depends on their composition, manufacturing quality, certification and manner of use.
• CSIR NEERI: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. It has contributed to the research, development and testing of firecracker formulations intended to reduce emissions.
• Air Quality Index (AQI): An indicator that communicates the status of air quality by translating the concentrations of major pollutants into categories associated with varying levels of health risk.
• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A framework for implementing progressively stricter pollution control measures in Delhi-NCR according to prevailing air-quality conditions.

Way Forward

• Improve Certification and Monitoring: Strengthen the verification of green crackers through effective certification, market surveillance and action against the sale of unauthorised products.
• Ensure Compliance with Standards: Enforce prescribed emission and noise limits and improve monitoring of firecracker manufacturing, distribution and use.
• Promote Public Awareness: Educate citizens about the environmental and health consequences of firecrackers while encouraging cleaner and safer alternatives for festive celebrations.
• Adopt a Comprehensive Pollution Control Strategy: Address the combined impact of vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial pollution, biomass burning and firecrackers through coordinated, year-round measures across Delhi-NCR.

Conclusion

Green crackers may help reduce certain emissions, but they cannot eliminate the environmental consequences of fireworks. Effective pollution control requires reliable certification, strict enforcement, public participation and sustained action against the multiple sources of air pollution.