India 27 October 2016: If you like to enjoy clean air, then diwali is the worst time of the year for you, with all the pollution caused by the firecrackers. To enjoy pollution free air during diwali the best option is to head out of town for cleaner air. This is not the most feasible option for most of us though, so Read on to know some doable tips to survive this air and noise pollution during diwali without causing any harm to your health.
- There are many websites and newspapers which offer daily air pollution levels in your neighbourhood through Air quality index. Check the level of pollution in your neighbourhood before you leave your house, to avoid highly-polluted areas.
- If you are used to going for jogging or morning walks outdoors, It’s best to avoid it during diwali time as the pollution levels are high. Instead, you can choose to walk indoors or head to a local gym. During diwali it’s best to Limit the time your child plays outside as the air quality is poor.
- Even though you stay in areas which have low to moderate pollution, vehicular exhaust increases air pollution levels up during peak hours. While driving this diwali season make sure you drive with your windows rolled up or Using a face mask to cover your mouth and nostrils also works well, using N95 respirators are the most effective.
- Avoid burning the left over cracker trash as it contains Copper, cadmium, sulphur, aluminium and barium, among others which produce the vibrant colours and sparkle. These substances and gases like nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide settle low in the atmosphere which cause irritation to our eyes and choke our lungs.
- To be safe from the noise pollution caused by crackers it’s recommended to use ear plugs during Diwali. Firecrackers are known to produce soundwave between 90dB to 130dB, depending on their type. The sound which is considered safe for humans is at 85 dB or below. Continuous exposure to sounds which are higher than 90 dB can damage your hearing. Soundwave which are above 140 dB can cause immediate permanent damage to your hearing ability.