Disadvantages of fireworks paragraph
Answers
Introduction
Diwali, for all its colour and light, has become the source of a great deal of debate and discomfort over the past few years. This debate centres on the use of firecrackers. While people love bursting firecrackers every year at this time, recent research has shown that firecrackers and the residue they leave behind can have some very harmful after-effects.
Effect of Firecrackers on Air Pollution
Exploding fireworks release a huge amount of smoke which intermingles with air. In cities such as Delhi, the air is already full of pollutants from other sources. The smoke from firecrackers mixes with the air and worsens the air quality, rendering the air quite hazardous. The particulate matter that is released by fireworks is suspended in the fog and gets into the lungs.
Effect of Firecrackers on Human Health
Fireworks contain chemicals such as barium nitrate, strontium, lithium, antimony, sulphur, potassium and aluminium. These chemicals pose serious health hazards to us. Antimony sulphide and aluminium can cause Alzheimer’s disease. Perchlorates made of potassium and ammonium can cause lung cancer. Barium nitrate can cause respiratory disorders, muscular weakness and even gastrointestinal issues. Copper and lithium compounds can cause hormonal imbalances and are fatal for animals and plants.
Effect of Firecrackers on Mental Health
The bursting of firecrackers can have a severely detrimental effect on people who suffer from mental health problems. The noise alone is enough to raise anxiety levels and the fact that this starts a week before the festival and lasts late into the night contributes to poor sleep. In extreme cases, the stress can lead to life threatening hyperventilation. Unfortunately, since mental health itself isn’t discussed a great deal in India, the effects of fireworks in this sphere have not been investigated properly.
Effect of Firecrackers on Animals
Diwali may be a time of great joy for humans but for animals and birds it is the most torturous time of the year. As pet owners already know, cats and dogs have very sensitive hearing. Therefore, what are mere loud bangs to us are as good as deafening to them. The continuous loud noises also frighten them. Strays are the worst hit since there is literally nowhere for them to go; there are fireworks on every street. Some people even tie fireworks to the tails of the animals and light them up for fun. Birds too are badly affected by the noise, which startles and frightens them and the light which can disorient or even blind them.
Conclusion
While fireworks may give dazzling displays, the effect they have on our physical and mental health, on our atmosphere and on the other beings that we share this planet can range from dangerous to devastating. We must curtail our use of them; a few instants of ‘fun’ do not justify long term harm to all.