Ambient Air Quality during Diwali Festival over Kolkata - A Mega-City in India

The effects of fireworks on air quality was assessed from the ambient concentrations of PM10, water soluble ionic species, metals and SO2 over Kolkata metropolis, India during Diwali festival in November 2010. PM10 concentrations on Diwali night were found to be similar to 5 times higher than the normal day night-time average. The increase in night-time concentrations of the metals on Diwali night spanned over a wide range (Al, Zn, Pb and Cd showed 5-12 times increases, Cu, Fe and Mn showed 25-40 times and Co and V showed 70-80 times) compared to normal night-time concentrations. The water soluble ionic species showed 1.5-6 times higher concentrations on Diwali night than on normal days. The most significant increases were found for K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO42-. The diurnal variations in PM10 and SO2 were also studied at one of the sites, and the results showed that their maximum concentrations were on Diwali night between 8 P.M.-3A.M., indicating maximum firework activities during this period. PM10 and SO2 concentrations increased by similar to 5 times compared to those on normal days during this period at this site. The extensive use of firecrackers during Diwali festival thus leads to significant increases in these air pollutants, and since they are associated with serious, adverse health impacts, the use of fireworks during in this kind of festival in a highly populated city, like Kolkata, India, needs to be controlled.