An estimated 1 billion people across South Asia will celebrate Diwali starting Sunday, but for many the festival of lights will coincide with hazardous winter air that traps pollutants near the ground, AP News reported. While fireworks traditionally mark the Hindu and Jain holiday with ties to ancient epics such as the Ramayana, they add a sharp burst of pollution to air already fouled by traffic, factories, construction dust and the burning of crop residues and waste.
Winter weather worsens the problem across the region. In parts of Pakistan and China, warmer air acts as a lid, trapping colder air and pollution near the ground. Eastern Europe faces its own seasonal spike as residents burn coal and wood to heat homes. Meanwhile, summer wildfires in the Western Hemisphere send smoke across vast areas of the United States and Canada. KSAT.com, carrying the AP report, noted that experts recommend checking the air quality index, wearing a well-fitting mask and using air purifiers to reduce exposure.
Fireworks Add a Burst to Year-Round Smog
Weak winds and stagnant winter air allow pollution to build up across India, Pakistan and other parts of South Asia. “Poor air quality is our all-year-round problem in our country,” said Shweta Narayan, a public health expert at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, according to AP News. Narayan said firecrackers add to the problem.
India’s air quality index turns pollution measurements into health warnings. AQI readings from 201–300 indicate “poor,” 301–400 indicate “very poor” and 401–500 indicate “severe.” Even healthy individuals can suffer harm at severe levels. Residents should check pollution levels on government or privately run websites before heading outdoors, looking for data from a nearby monitoring station and the time of its last update, because a citywide average can conceal a polluted neighborhood.
Delhi’s Fine Particles Average Nineteen Times WHO Guideline
Delhi faces a particularly severe situation, with fine particle pollution last year averaging roughly 19 times the World Health Organization’s annual guideline, according to AP News. Air pollution monitors have reached the maximum reading they can display multiple times in recent years. City authorities have responded with temporary construction, industrial and vehicle restrictions, and the city of more than 20 million people is implementing a long-term plan to promote electric vehicles. Public health experts said such temporary measures often fail to address the root causes.
N95 and N99 Masks Require a Tight Seal to Filter Particles
According to AP News, Dr. Arvind Kumar—a chest surgeon at Medanta hospital near Delhi and founder trustee of the Lung Care Foundation—advises wearing properly fitted N95 or N99 masks outside when pollution is heavy. These masks are available at pharmacies, hardware stores and online retailers. N95 filters capture at least 95% of airborne particles; N99 filters capture at least 99%. The masks do not filter harmful gases.
Wearers must cover their nose, mouth and chin, shape the nose clip and check the seal every time. Facial hair can break that seal. The aim, Kumar said, is to ensure “all the breathing is through the mask and not around the mask.” Replace disposable masks when dirty, damaged or hard to breathe through. Never put a mask on a child younger than 2, and people with heart or lung disease should seek medical advice about mask use. Loose surgical masks, cloth masks and scarves offer unreliable protection against fine particles.
Kumar said pollution can cause persistent coughing, inflame the airways and trigger asthma-like attacks. He pointed to higher risks of pneumonia, heart attacks and strokes, and connected long-term exposure to stunted lung growth in children and lung cancer. People should avoid strenuous exercise outdoors during heavy pollution, including early mornings when levels can be high.
HEPA Purifiers Reduce Indoor Exposure but Cannot Eliminate Risk
Using the right air purifiers indoors can help. The devices draw in air to filter out pollutants, then recirculate cleaner air. A purifier needs enough capacity to clean the air of the room where it runs. Choose a unit with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and verify its clean air delivery rate—the amount of filtered air it delivers. Position the purifier in the room where you spend the most time, like the bedroom, ensure its airflow stays unobstructed and operate it continuously.
HEPA filters trap particles. Substantial activated-carbon filters can remove some gases. No purifier removes every pollutant, and machines that deliberately produce ozone should be avoided because ozone irritates the lungs. Cleaner indoor air reduces exposure, but as Kumar noted, a purifier cannot eliminate pollution’s health risks.
Common Questions About Diwali Air Safety
Why does winter make air pollution worse in northern India? Weak winds and stagnant winter air allow pollutants from traffic, factories and crop burning to build up, while warmer air aloft can trap colder, polluted air near the ground.
Can people with heart or lung disease wear masks during Diwali? Dr. Arvind Kumar said people with heart or lung disease should seek medical advice about mask use before wearing one during heavy pollution.
Do air purifiers remove all pollutants from indoor air? No. HEPA filters trap particles and carbon filters remove some gases, but no purifier removes every pollutant, and ozone-producing machines can irritate lungs.
As Diwali approaches, the question remains whether temporary restrictions on construction, industry and vehicles can ease the smog, or whether the region’s year-round pollution sources will continue to overwhelm the festival’s lights each winter.
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