October 15, 2007 was the first World Blog Action Day where bloggers around the world blog on environment and environmental issues. The choice of topic is what led to a sea of activity in the blog world.

This unique initiative is supported by the United Nations Environment Programme: “UNEP welcomes the simple yet powerful concept of Blog Action Day and calls on bloggers around world to participate”. European Union’s Commissioner for Environment, Stavros Dimas held a special live internet chat on the same day and took questions and viewpoints of a broad range of people. Companies like Google, Yahoo, AOL, Opera, eBay etc. participated as well. Denizens of the blogosphere have also played a crucial role in coordinating efforts to persuade the online community to write on environment for a given day.

Indeed this unique day demonstrates power of an idea and the speed at which something can spread across the globe by using technology. The approach is to reach out to as many people as possible and focus discussion on a particular topic like environment. It is an initiative of Collis Ta’eed, his wife Cyan and a blogger Leo Babauta. “The world doesn’t change in huge leaps, it changes in small increments. We hope that Blog Action Day will be one more drop in the tide of change”, Ta’eed wrote on his blog.

The reality is that the impact was actually significant. There were some 20,603 Blogs that participated, 23,327 Blog Posts were made and some 14, 631, 038 RSS readers. Interestingly RSS readers are perhaps only 50% of the readers of a blog.

It is indeed thrilling to see so many people coming together to support the cause of environment. People have been posting diverse articles from debates on issues like climate change, air pollution to simple tips that individuals can take at their own end to reduce their environmental impact on the planet. The idea has led to unite blog community around the world and hence widened the reach of audience to create awareness on environment and environmental issues.

No doubt that Chandigarh has a large percentage of area under green cover, but yet there are few other issues which we need to deal with before things go out of hand. One such is the rising air pollution in our city owing to various reasons like:

i) Rise in number of vehicles
ii) Dust storms from nearby fields
iii) Manufacturing processes in industries
iv) There is also another big factor of crackers during Diwali that adds immensely to increase in SPM levels.

Table 1
SPM levels in Chandigarh are above the prescribed limit of 120-140 ppm.

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY DATA IN CHANDIGARH (ANNUAL AVERAGE)

i) The SPM (suspended particulate matter) levels rise to a large extent during Diwali.

• It can cause throat, nose & eye related problems which can later develop into adverse health hazards.
• It can lead to headaches & reduced mental acuity when it reaches the level of 100 ppm.
• It has much more severe effects in people with heart, respiratory or nervous system disorders.
• It can aggravate problem for people suffering from cold, allergies or coughs and can also cause congestion of throat & chest.

ii) Increase amount of noise has harmful effects on animals as well as humans. Standard decibel level for humans is 60 dB.
Increase in the decibel level can lead to:

• Restlessness
• Temporary or Permanent Hearing Loss
• Fidgetiness
• High Blood Pressure
• Anger
• Heart Attack
• Sleep Disturbance
• Impulsiveness
• Can lead to withdrawal behaviour or hyperactivity in pregnant women, children & those suffering from respiratory problems.

iii) Fireworks can also cause health problems like:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Common Cold
• Allergic Bronchitis
• Bronchial Asthma
• Sinusitis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)
• Ephysema
• Rhinitis
• Pneumonia
• Laryngitis

iv) It results in smog which can reduce visibility thereby leading to accidents as well as is toxic if inhaled.
- It is said that one big firecracker like “1000 walas” and “hydrogen bombs” can produce up to 250 cc of smoke.
- It can also cause water contamination and acid rains.
- It results in air pollution that creates carcinogenic sulphur compounds and airborne arsenic effect.

v) Use of “rockets” near houses gives rise to many injuries each year. There is no law pertaining to the same.

vi) Harmful effects of fireworks displays:
- Green light produced in fireworks displays comes from Barium that is radioactive and poisonous.
- Blue colour produced from copper compounds comes from dioxins linked to cancer.
- Different effects are produced by using different chemicals that are linked to a host of health and respiratory problems as mentioned in table below.

vii) Harmful effects of various chemicals & substances contained in crackers & fireworks are as mentioned in the table below:

Harmful effects of Chemicals & Substances contained in Crackers & Fireworks

References:

India Together

Toxics Link

Wikipedia

Thestar.com

http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/toxicfireworks.htm

http://www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks/law.htm

http://www.fireworks.com/fireworks_laws/

http://www.lycos.com/info/fireworks-pyrotechnic–united-states.html Read more

No doubt that Chandigarh has a large percentage of area under green cover, but yet there are few other issues which we need to deal with before things go out of hand. One such is the rising air pollution in our city owing to various reasons like:

More…

Areas where crackers are made:

Areas where cracker production takes place in India are: Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh & Chennai. Sivakasi, a backward district of Virdhunagar accounts for 80 to 90% of fireworks production in India & the trade volume runs to about Rs.700 crore per annum.

Cracker Production:

• Everyday, more than 50000 to 1,00,000 kids, as old as 8 years of age, work with the dangerous chemicals and substances to make fireworks and matches to be shipped across the country falling prey to numerous health hazards.

• Sivakasi is reported to have the highest concentration of child labourers in the world.

• These kids start their day 3 am to 5 am in the morning and get back by 6 pm to 9 pm.

• These kids dye the outer paper, stick labels, dip materials in hot chemicals, roll gun powder, make crackers & fireworks & pack the final product for more than 10 hours a day.

• Most of these units pay on piece rate basis and children earn only 50% of what is earned by adults.

• All workers are exposed to airborne concentrations of hazardous substances like sulphur, nitrates, potash etc. that leads to disorders of liver, kidney, skin and eyes.

• With no proper training or protective gear, bad working conditions; accidents and blasts in these units are frequent.

• Some people refer to them as “human bombs” as any day could be their last days.

• Despite anti-firecracker and child labour eradication campaigns & the directive of Supreme Court there has only been a little fall in demand.

• Illegal manufacturing units mushroom during the festival season, where children are still hired.

• In 2005, fire in a factory producing crackers in Khusrupur injured about 10000 children and killed many. Most of the kids were in the age group 8 to 16 years. This is only one just incident out of many that occur each year.

Laws in India regarding cracker production, sale and use:

i) Central Pollution Control Board of India has banned firecrackers with more than 125 decibel level at a distance of 4 meters from point of bursting. It also prohibits selling crackers in silence zones like courts, hospitals, religious places and educational institutions.
ii) The Supreme Court of India observed that “the right to peaceful sleep is a fundamental right of the citizens”, hence it has banned crackers between 10pm to 6am during the festival seasons and has also passed orders seeking adherence to anti-noise pollution norms for firecrackers.
iii) The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) amended “noise pollution” defined in the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. It also banned the manufacture, sale and use of fire-crackers generating noise levels exceeding 125 dB (AL) or 145 dB (C) notified in October 1999. But the amendment remains unimplemented till now.
iv) Police authorities have been authorized to enforce rules regarding noise pollution.
v) Certain cities like Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai have taken cognizance of fire crackers menace and have been issuing orders to prohibit crackers violating decibel limits and other measures.
vi) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - National Physical Laboratory conducted a study which estimates that 95% of crackers violate noise and pollution norms.
vii) DK Biswas, former chairman, Central Pollution Control Board says, “Unless noise pollution standards are enforced at the place of manufacture, it is impossible to regulate them”. The Controller of Explosives have been directed to limit licenses for fire crackers.

Laws in other countries regarding cracker production, sale and use:

Many countries have effective laws to deal with problems created by fireworks and crackers. Pyrotechnic firework displays have been an easy alternative for many but environmental effects of the same are manifold still. There have been suggestions of using laser light displays in order to do away with such pollution causing displays.

It is popular to watch firework displays in many countries. But there are special firework legislations governing them as they are explosive and burn at high temperature. Thereby, they require careful handling, possession, storage and sale.

US: Owing to the environmental effects of using fireworks like the chemicals causing water contamination, acid rain, air pollution etc. US restricts the use of fireworks as per the Clean Air Act. There are specific state laws that regulate the fireworks usage.

New York Fireworks Laws: There are no specifically permitted consumer fireworks whereas firecrackers, bombs, sparklers, skyrockets, torpedoes etc. are specifically prohibited consumer fireworks.
Even for display fireworks there are strict operation licenses, display permits and insurance that needs to be taken in order to carry them out.
Apart from that safe manufacture, storage areas, transportation laws are specified in their state law.

Washington D.C., Fireworks Laws: Specifically permitted consumer fireworks include: cones, sparklers (having length less than 20”), colored lights, torches etc. Specifically prohibited fireworks include: firecrackers or any other fireworks that can explode like cherry bombs, floral shells, artillery shells etc. Or the person needs to move after the cracker has been lit up like bottle rockets, pinwheels, parachutes etc.
Even for display fireworks there are strict operation licenses, display permits and insurance that needs to be taken in order to carry them out.
Apart from that safe manufacture, storage areas, transportation laws are specified in their state law.

UK Penalties: In UK, it is an offence to throw or set off fireworks in any street, highway or public place. There are huge penalties and fines for the same. According to the Fireworks Act 2003, it is also an offence to possess fireworks in public place & for anyone to set off fireworks during night time between 11pm to 7 am.

References:

India Together

Toxics Link

Wikipedia

Thestar.com

http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/toxicfireworks.htm

http://www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks/law.htm

http://www.fireworks.com/fireworks_laws/

http://www.lycos.com/info/fireworks-pyrotechnic–united-states.html