<h1 class="ql-align-center">Toxic Material in Firecrackers</h1> <h2>Context:</h2> <ul><li>The Supreme Court has said a preliminary enquiry by the CBI into the firecracker industry, including in Tamil Nadu, revealed rampant violation of its ban on the use of toxic ingredients like Barium and its salts.</li></ul> <h2>About:</h2> <ul><li>A chemical analysis of the samples of finished and semi-finished firecrackers and raw materials taken from the manufacturers showed Barium content.</li></ul> <ul><li>The court stated that loose quantities of Barium were purchased from the market.</li></ul> <ul><li>Also, firecracker covers did not show the manufacture or expiry dates.</li></ul> <ul><li>The Supreme Court told the firecracker manufacturers that the&nbsp;right to life of innocent citizens&nbsp;was more precious than the&nbsp;right to employment of workers.</li></ul> <ul><li>Supreme court in 2018 banned the use of five chemicals antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, and lead.</li></ul> <ul><li>Explosive fireworks depend on four primary ingredients:</li></ul> <ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Oxidiser - Usually Nitrates, Chlorates or Perchlorates, etc</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Fuel - Gunpowder in form of Potassium Nitrate, Charcoal, and Sulphur</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Colouring agents - Strontium, Barium, Copper, Calcium, Sodium, and Magnesium</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Binder - Dextrin is the common binder, and it holds the mixture together.</li></ul> <h2>Barium:</h2> <ul><li>Barium nitrate, which emits green flames when a cracker is lit, is a metal oxide that increases both air and noise pollution.</li></ul> <ul><li>There is no clarity on whether barium nitrate can actually be used or not.</li></ul> <img src="https://sunyaias-resources.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/content/d6ea16e6-730c-11ec-b863-477923514423.png">