GREEN CRACKERS | IAS GYAN

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Context: Only green firecrackers will be sold in the Delhi for Diwali, in accordance with the Supreme Court (SC) orders.

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Green crackers are low-emission crackers, free of harmful chemicals such as sulphur, nitrates, arsenic, magnesium, sodium, lead, and barium, which reduce the emission of up to 30%.
Emit noise in the range of 100-130 deciBels.
Come with a green logo and Quick Response (QR) code to differentiate from conventional firecrackers.

How does one identify and differentiate them?

One should look for green crackers falling only in these three categories- SWAS, SAFAL and STAR: the crackers developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
SWAS, that is “safe water releaser” should have have a small water pocket/droplets which get released when burst, in the form of vapour.
SWAS is safe water releaser, which suppresses the dust released by releasing water vapour in the air. It does not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur and the particulate dust released will reduce approximately by 30 per cent.
Similarly, STAR is the safe thermite cracker, which does not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur, emits reduced particulate matter disposal and reduced sound intensity.
SAFAL is safe minimal aluminium which has minimum usage of aluminium, and used magnesium instead. It ensures reduction in sound in comparison to traditional crackers said.

Conventional firecrackers:

Composed of charcoal or thermite in combination with oxidizing agents such as nitrates or chlorates, sulfur agents, and coloring agents.
Include salts of strontium, sodium, barium, calcium, and copper as well as white metals, which produce more particulate matter (PM).
Emit sound between 160-200 deciBels.

What is the difference between green crackers and traditional crackers?

Both green crackers and traditional crackers cause pollution and people should refrain from using either.
However, the only difference is that green crackers cause 30 per cent less air pollution as compared to traditional ones.
Green crackers reduce emissions substantially and absorb dust and don’t contain hazardous elements like barium nitrate.
Toxic metals in traditional crackers are replaced with less hazardous compounds.
According to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), green crackers are permitted only in cities and towns where air quality is moderate or poor.
There is reduction in emission of sound as well in green crackers.

What are the toxic metals that traditional crackers release?

Crackers release several toxic metals that can be harmful for health.
The white color emitted through crackers is aluminium, magnesium and titanium, while the orange colour is carbon or iron.
Similarly, yellow agents are sodium compounds while blue and red are copper compounds and strontium carbonates.
The green agent is barium mono chloride salts or barium nitrate or barium chlorate.
Lead in crackers impact the nervous system while copper triggers respiratory tract irritation, sodium causes skin issues and magnesium leads to mental fume fever.
Cadmium not just causes anemia but also damages the kidney while nitrate is the most harmful that causes mental impairment.
The presence of nitrite causes irritation in mucous membrane, eyes and skin.