‘Firecracker labels omit toxic chemical details’

Labels on most firecrackers sold during Diwali in Mumbai do not disclose the full list of their chemical components, with many toxic ingredients omitted, according to tests conducted by the anti-noise campaign group, Awaaz Foundation.

- Manoj Ramakrishnan

The tests found toxic heavy metals in most firework samples collected from stalls across the city. For instance, a majority of 25 samples tested positive for barium, a chemical classified as a toxin. Excessive barium can cause decreased blood potassium (hypokalemia), leading to adverse cardiovascular and muscular effects such as tachycardia, high or