Experts hail SC move on firecrackers

JAIPUR: City’s health experts welcomed the Supreme Court order on discouraging use of crackers. They pointed out Jaipur as one of the worst places for people with respiratory diseases. “The city is one among 14 most air polluted cities of the world. The air of Jaipur is already toxic and use of crackers emitting smoke and loud sound makes the situation worse for children, elderly people and also those who are already suffering from respiratory diseases. The SC order for discouraging use of crackers has come as a major relief especially for the people who have weaker lungs,” said Dr Virendra Singh, former Sawai Man Singh Hospital superintendent and senior pulmonologist. He pointed out that in some western countries, different kind of firecrackers are used which emit light but do not emit much smoke and that such crackers could be used here too. “We import Chinese crackers. The markets are full of such crackers, which emit a lot of smoke. Such firecrackers should not be used as they make the air more toxic,” said Dr Singh.Moreover, ENT experts claimed that every year they see patients with hearing loss due to loud sound of crackers. They said high-decibel crackers should be discouraged. “Acute exposure to sudden sounds of 140 decibel crackers leads to deafness, which can sometimes be permanent. Also, there are cases where the ear drum is ruptured,” said Dr Pawan Singhal, professor (ENT), SMS Medical College.