Diwali - Firecrackers must be banned

• Firecrackers came into the country in the 1920s when the Nadar brothers had set up the industry in Sivakasi. Till then there weren't any firecrackers being burst on Diwali. It's a very recent, 20th century phenomenon in our country.
• NCR alone makes up almost 20-25% of the total firecracker market in the country which is over Rs.5,000 crores.
• Last year after Diwali, Delhi was choking and completely covered by smog. The PM 2.5 level is the most harmful particulate matter because everyone breaths it. It goes right into lungs. There are many cause of air pollution, firecrackers is one of the causes. All heads of pollution: poor fuel, crop burning and waste burning, etc have to stop. Every contributing factor to air pollution must be set right. Diwali pollution happens during the cold months, when the wind factor is low and crops are also burnt.
• Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
• Firecrackers emit nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter which are so minute that they have a propensity to get lodged in the lung and can even enter the bloodstream. Patients of asthma and other respiratory disorders report discomfort and worsening of conditions during Diwali. 
• Firecrackers are made of chemicals which are lethal to health. Copper causes irritation of respiratory tract; Cadmium causes anemia and damages the kidney; Lead affects the nervous system; Sodium is bad for skin; Zinc causes vomiting; Nitrate can lead to mental impairment; Nitrite, which is the most lethal of them all, can send one to coma.
• High decibels of noise pollution created by firecrackers can cause temporary and sometimes permanent hearing impairment. Other problems that people of old age face on Diwali nights are sleeping disorders, restlessness, rise in blood pressure, and even heart attacks.
• So many accidents happen due to misuse or improper usage of firecrackers. Lives are lost and some are maimed for the rest of their life. Playing with fire, the most hazardous element of nature cannot be fun for everyone.
• The conditions of those working in factories that produce these crackers, are deadly. With no real precautionary measure or proper shield and child labors are incorporated to keep up with the demands of these crackers during Diwali. Buying these crackers is like contributing to their inhuman condition for another year.
• The day next to Diwali witnesses burnt garbage with toxic elements such as magnesium and phosphorus. Crores are spent every year in these burnt fire crackers which ultimately go towards contaminating the natural resources and accidental loss of properties and lives.
• Diwali and firecrackers don't go hand-in-hand. Firecrackers are not a religious practice and not linked with Diwali. Diwali is a festival of lights.
• The impact of crackers on children is far greater than it is on adults because their defence mechanism is much poorer and their ability to metabolise and detoxify environmental agents is different. Due to their high level of physical activities, children inhale more volume of air as compared to adults and so breathe in more toxic air.
• There are lesser number of children pursuing bursting crackers but there are very few who know about its ill effects. There is a drastic change in Delhi air. Drastic situation calls for drastic measures.
• Whenever an activity is found to be dangerous to public health, the court or government must step in and ban it. Gutka has been banned. Plastic too has been banned. Similarly firecrackers should be banned. As far as labourers in the firecrackers industry are concerned, it is important to note their employment is only seasonal. Bursting of firecrackers for weddings, parties, victories in matches, etc must be prohibited and the government has to enforce this.
• Banning them completely seems to be the best way.

Equally polluting things are diesel generator sets, automobile emission and burning of bio-mass. They must either be banned or usage minimised and regulated. Half hearted actions doesn't produce any results.