Harmful Effects of Fireworks in Tihar

Fireworks is often used for celebrating various national and cultural events all over the world. Tihar or Dipawali in Nepal, Diwali Festival in India, Yanshui Festival in Taiwan, Montreal International Fireworks competition, Lantern Festival in Beijing, Guy Fawkes Night in the United Kingdom etc. are the festivals celebrated with fireworks.

If you ask me we should think twice before buying fireworks in Dipawali. This is not the way to celebrate this beautiful festival. There can be many alternatives of fireworks. We can buy gifts, books, gadgets or cloths which are less harmful for nature as compared to firecrackers.  Considering the effects of fireworks on health and environment we should avoid the use of fireworks & look for alternatives. 

Harmful effects of fireworks in tihar:

• On this auspicious occasion unknowingly harmful gases and toxic substances released to environment by bursting fireworks such as Barium, Cadmium, Sodium, Mercury, Nitrate and Nitrite. These are called as Air pollutants. High level of pollutants cause various respiratory tract diseases and skin diseases.
• Need of electricity goes high in this period. To overcome shortage of electricity majorly electricity generated by using diesel, Coal etc. that also causes air pollution.
• Heavy sound produced by bursting crackers causes noise pollution. The deadening sound causes headache, ear problems, irritability, sleep disturbance and other health problems. Such an intense sound in particular, is hazardous to senior citizens and children/infants.
• With happiness it also brings dry waste like papers, plastics, firework covers. Massive amount of non-degradable dry waste generated in Dipawali celebration. It causes Soil pollution as less space for dumping ground in major cities like kathmandu. 
• In Tihar Fireworks are handled by kids and due to their poisonous nature many children fall ill. Poisonous gases may cause fever, Skin irritation, vomiting, Effects of Fireworks on lungs, insomnia, heart, asthma and bronchitis. Also many children face accidents due to mishandling of fireworks and it causes burning, cutting.
• Noise level can go beyond 125 dB which is as loud as Military jet aircraft take-off, whereas government limits Noise level at 55 dB in daytime and 45dB at night for residential area. These type of noises are very harmful for new-born babies.
• The crackers that are carelessly burnt/ handled by the people in residential areas, causes fire accidents resulting in the damage of property. It might result in the loss of lives in case of severe fire accidents.

The best way to tackle the pollution caused by fireworks is not to have them at all. It will be wise to go for an environment-friendly and traditional way of celebrating the festival of lights.