PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Limaye, Sneha
AU  - Shah, Rohan
AU  - Ujagare, Dhammasagar
AU  - Londhe, Jyoti
AU  - Madas, Sapna
AU  - Salvi, Sundeep
TI  - Hazardous levels of PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in mean aerodynamic diameter) are emitted during burning of individual fire crackers in India
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA3953
DP  - 2016 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA3953
VI  - 48
IP  - suppl 60
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/48/suppl_60/PA3953.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/48/suppl_60/PA3953.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2016 Sep 01; 48
AB  - Diwali or the festival of lights is the most popular festival celebrated in India, when fire crackers are burnt in almost every household for 3 days. Levels of ambient air pollution are reported to be very high during the Diwali festival. In this study we aimed to measure personal exposure levels to PM2.5 during the burning of six of the most commonly used fire cracker types in India.Methods: Sparklers, ground spinners, flower pots, pulpuls, garland of 1000 sounding crackers and snake tablets were burnt outdoors in an open area during the late evening hours. PM2.5 levels were measured at a distance and height from where they are normally burnt using Thermo PDR 1200, USA.Results: Duration of exposure and peak PM2.5 levels for each of the fire crackers are given. Conclusion: Diwali fire crackers produce extremely high levels of PM2.5 over a short period of time with the snake tablet producing a peak level of 64,850 mcg/m3. Burning of fire crackers during Diwali festival is a major public health problem in India.