Author : Saif Ullah Khan and Nusrat Ali

The present study deals with the impact of bursting crackers & fireworks on the ambient air quality of Diwali festival in Nov 2012. In the present study SO2, NO2 and SPM were estimated at residential site during the day and night times for pre-Diwali, Diwali day & post-Diwali i.e. from 13-15th Nov 2012. On Diwali day, the level of SO2, NO2 and SPM values were found to be 81.42, 85.86 and 1236.24 μg/m3 respectively, which were very high when compared with any normal day (14.61, 41.78 and 341.24 μg/m3 respectively). After Diwali day the level of SO2, NO2 and SPM values were 77.56, 82.17 and 1168.06 μg/m3 respectively. On Diwali day and after Diwali day, the values of SO2, NO2 and SPM were found to be much higher than the standard value of NAAQS. Hence in the present study, crackers and fireworks were found to be the chief sources of air pollution during the Diwali festival. Even though the impact of Diwali is short term, but the short term exposure of these pollutants above the standard values can cause the increase in respiratory problems.

Keywords: Air Quality, Diwali, crackers, SO2, NO2, SPM, Aligarh.

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.3,No.5(Dec- 2013)