Have ‘green’ crackers brought down pollution?, Pg14.

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court legalized the sale of “green crackers” to balance public sentiment, pollution control, and livelihood concerns in the firecracker industry.
• CSIR-NEERI (Nagpur) initiated the development of green crackers in 2018, claiming a 30–80% reduction in particulate emissions while maintaining brightness and safety.
• The innovation involved three major formulation changes:
• Use of zeolite and boron-based reagents to suppress dust.
• Inclusion of metallic composites to enhance combustion efficiency.
• Addition of water-releasing molecules to moisten dust and prevent it from becoming airborne.
• Common examples:
• ‘SAFAL’ (flower pot variant) uses a mixture of water and lime.
• ‘SWAS’ (bomb variant) uses proprietary additives and potassium nitrate oxidiser, reducing PM10 and PM2.5 emissions by 30–72% in lab conditions.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and PESO regulate licensing and manufacturing, with about 1,500 licensed manufacturers (mostly from Tamil Nadu).
• However, real-world data show no measurable reduction in overall air quality post-2018 despite restricted use.

Detailed Insights:

• Development & Regulation:
  • NEERI created Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for manufacturing and registration of green crackers.
  • Only manufacturers with explosive licenses from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) can legally produce them.
• Scientific Accuracy:
  • The term “Reduced Emission Fireworks” (REFs) is scientifically more accurate than “green crackers,” as these products reduce rather than eliminate emissions.
  • Each lab-tested variant showed reduced particulate output but lacked large-scale field verification.
• Pollution Trends:
  • Between 2018 and 2024, the Supreme Court observed “no significant improvement” in air quality during Deepavali.
  • Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels during the 2025 festival reached over 1,000 µg/m³ in parts of NCR, remaining in the ‘very poor’ category.
  • Experts attribute persistent pollution to meteorological conditions (low wind speed, temperature drop) and stubble burning, not just crackers.
• Economic & Social Aspect:
  • The green cracker initiative sought to sustain small-scale employment in Sivakasi and other firework hubs while addressing environmental concerns.
  • Awareness and enforcement remain limited beyond urban centers.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Green Crackers / Reduced Emission Fireworks: Fireworks designed to reduce emissions of PM2.5, PM10, SO₂, and NOx through modified chemical compositions.
• Zeolite: A microporous aluminosilicate mineral that acts as a dust suppressant by trapping particulates.
• Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10): Fine particles with diameters below 2.5 and 10 micrometers, respectively, capable of entering the respiratory tract and causing health hazards.
• AQI (Air Quality Index): Composite index used to describe the state of air quality based on pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃.