Health · Medical Research · 7 hrs ago
Deepavali firecracker smoke can harm respiratory health
Deepavali firecracker smoke can affect breathing within hours, causing coughing, wheezing or breathlessness.
The risk is greater for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions, but high pollution levels can irritate anyone’s airways.
The smoke contains particulate matter and gases that can harm respiratory health.
Repeated exposure may cause lasting lung damage, although the effects are not limited to people with a diagnosed condition.
India’s Air Quality Index, or AQI, combines levels of eight pollutants into one number to show how polluted the air is and the likely health effects.
The Central Pollution Control Board calculates the index using pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.
A few hours of exposure to Deepavali firecracker smoke can trigger coughing, wheezing or breathlessness.
People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are particularly at risk.
High concentrations of particulate matter and gases can also irritate the airways of people without a diagnosed condition.
Repeated exposure to Deepavali air pollution may cause lasting damage.
India’s Air Quality Index combines levels of different pollutants to indicate pollution and likely health effects.
- Who
- People exposed to firecracker smoke, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
- What
- Smoke can trigger coughing, wheezing or breathlessness, and repeated exposure may cause lasting damage.
- When
- During Deepavali; the article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- High concentrations of particulate matter and gases can irritate the airways.
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- Exposure duration
- A few hours can trigger respiratory symptoms
- At-risk groups
- People with asthma or other respiratory conditions
- Pollutants
- Particulate matter and gases
- AQI inputs
- Eight pollutants
- Publication date
- November 9, 2026