hazards of bursting crackers on diwali and how it is affecting air quality index
Answers
Diwali is one of the biggest festival of India. No Diwali is complete without bursting crackers.
Air quality index (AQI) is an index, that indicates the level of pollution in air. It is divided into five categories. Good (0-50), satisfactory (51-100), moderately polluted (101-200), poor (201-300), very poor (301-400) and severe(401 -500).
Crackers are very harmful to the individual as well as the environment. The bursting of huge amount of crackers, result in aerosols, black carbon, organics and trace gases. The particles remain suspended in air and when you inhale, it results in respiratory problems. Even the healthy individuals are affected.
This can be clearly seen by comparing AQI of a normal day with an AQI of Diwali day. In Delhi, the AQI following Diwali, crossed 500 and entered dangerous zone.
The environment can only be protected when individuals, realize their mistakes and start taking action.