Why in the News?

Both government agencies and conscious citizens in Bengaluru are actively ensuring that only less polluting green crackers are being sold and bought this Deepavali.

What are Green firecrackers?

• Green firecrackers are a type of fireworks designed to produce fewer pollutants and emissions compared to traditional firecrackers.
• They are crafted to be more environmentally friendly by using cleaner ingredients, and emitting less smoke and harmful chemicals upon combustion.
• There are mainly three types of green firecrackers: SWAS, SAFAL, and STAR.
• They are not only eco-friendly but 15-20 % cheaper than the conventional ones.
• In 2018, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) introduced the idea of green crackers.

What are they made of?

• Green firecrackers are marked by reduced size of shell, elimination of ash usage, reduced usage of raw material in the compositions, and have a uniformly acceptable quality.
• They use additives as dust suppressants to reduce emissions with specific reference to particulate matter (PM).
• These crackers lack the barium compounds responsible for their unique green hue.
• Barium, a metallic oxide, is known to contribute to air pollution and noise pollution.
• When green crackers are ignited, they produce water vapor, thereby minimizing dust emissions.
• In terms of sound levels, green firecrackers generate noise ranging from 110 to 125 decibels, making them significantly quieter than traditional firecrackers, which typically produce around 160 decibels, resulting in nearly 30% less noise.