- The Supreme Court ban on the use of antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead in the manufacture of firecrackers to prevent air pollution has turned the focus on what chemicals are used to produce spectacular visual effects and noise.
- Aluminium powder, sulphur and potassium nitrate go into noise-making crackers, while barium nitrate (green) and strontium nitrate (red) emit light. Aluminium powder is used in sparklers. “A combination of barium nitrate and strontium nitrate in varying proportions produces different colours”.
- Phosphorous and chlorate are not allowed to be used in fireworks. Potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate are friction-sensitive and accident-prone, if used in combination with sulphur. Hence, it is not a part of fireworks chemistry.
- The Supreme Court observed that there seems to be some doubt about strontium and its compound used in crackers, and has posted the case to August 23 to hear submissions about the use of strontium.
- PESO source said the procurement of raw materials for fireworks does not come under the purview of the Explosives Act.
- The PESO has been testing samples of crackers only for adherence to the sound limit of 125 decibels at a distance of four metres.
- A Supreme Court Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta had on July 31, in an order, directed that no firecrackers manufactured by the respondents shall contain the chemicals in any form, whatsoever.
- The court entrusted the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) with the responsibility of ensuring compliance particularly in Sivakasi. Over 90% of cracker production is done in Sivakasi.
Colors produced by chemicals in the fireworks
Source:TH