This Diwali say no to fire crackers or any form of burning waste especially the dry leaves from public garden or a bonfire as any form of smoke can trigger a serious health concern amidst the covid 19 pandemic which is still active, says city allergy and medical health experts, whose advice people. Carbon particles from fumes and chemical vapours from the fire crackers, may aggrevate the pre existing allergic condition and vapour particles can stick to nostrils for a long period of time, aggravating allergic Rhinitis and tigger asthma and bronchitis attack

Speaking to MiDDAY, Dr Wiqar Shaikh, senior allergy and Astham specialist said, "Firecrackers are especially made up of four components, namely oxidizers, fuel, colouring agents and binder. Of these, the fuel component is generally charcoal, which sustains the fire and which results in the release of a large amount of air pollutants particularly, Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Di oxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and particulate matter, which get lodged in the lungs. With Diwali approaching and the certainty of firecrackers being burst across the country, we can expect a drop in air quality and particularly an increase in all the incriminated air pollutants such as SPM, SO2, CO, NO, NO2, etc. All these are bound to affect the lungs and it is certain that we can expect a spike in Covid-19 cases and an increase in mortality during and after Diwali.