Diwali is the time of the year when our nation’s children are on holiday and festivities are rampant. Sadly this fun time for children is also when firecrackers and fireworks are available in plenty. The word “firecrackers” evokes quite a bit of emotion and is often associated with great joy but one must realize that the chemical smoke and gases released from firecrackers can be regarded as a serious concern for the capacity of eyes for children.

It is shocking to know that mothers and fathers have been using firecrackers for this long despite it being scientifically proven to be a pollutant and one that can heavily damage children’s eyesight.

But now, as a parent, most people see things differently—firecracker smoke, while dazzling, risks young eyes and health. From choosing eco-friendly lights and indoor activities, ensuring a festive, safe celebration for your children’s well-being is important and necessary. Dr. Neeraj Sanduja, MBBS, MS - Ophthalmology, Ophthalmologist, Eye Surgeon shares all about the toxic effects of smoke from the firecrackers kids so lovingly enjoy bursting and how harmful they can be for their eyes.

Hazardous Effects of Firecracker Smoke

The smoke from firecrackers is a blend of toxic chemicals and fine particles, each carrying potential harm for the delicate tissues of the eyes. Here are some key pollutants present in firecracker smoke that pose specific dangers:

Particulate matter: These are the fumes exhaled from burning that are extremely small but can infiltrate deep into the lungs and eyes creating lesions and scars.

Sulfur dioxide & nitrogen oxides: These gasses emit acid rain, it's easy to comprehend how detrimental it is to the human body.

Heavy metals: If consumed through the skin lead arsenic or any other toxic metals emitted through firecrackers will inflict great damage.

Common Eye Conditions Linked to Firecracker Pollution in Children

Exposure to firecracker smoke can cause a range of immediate symptoms in children, as well as chronic eye problems that may not become apparent until much later. Children are at high risk of developing some symptoms upon exposure to firecracker smoke, and these include:

Red eye syndrome: Clinical eye examinations show that the eyes can be red and watery, as well as itchy due to the smoke's chemicals.

Eye pain: Another common complaint in children is a burning and stinging sensation in the eye areas.

Intolerance to light: The burning of firecrackers leads to the emission of smoke that can irritate the eyes and increase their sensitivity.

Corneal damage: Severe inflammation of the outer layer of the eyeball caused by exposure to smoke may be a more damaging injury caused than previously mentioned damages of the inner layer.

Long-Term Effects of Firecracker Smoke on Eye Health

While some eye issues may appear right after exposure, others may develop subtly and manifest over time, resulting in chronic eye conditions. Dr Neeraj exclaims, "Of great concern is the fact that parents may not notice these initial signs and the signs that are causes are others since these are only some of the diseases that are dangerous but children who continuously come into contact with air polluted by firecrackers may consider the following risks:

Cataracts

Glaucoma

Dry eye syndrome

Tips for Protecting Children’s Eyes During Diwali

Parents can observe the following measures to shield their children's eyes from the harmful effects of firecracker smoke:

Avoid exposure: In the first place, the best way to avoid damaging children’s eyes is to prevent any contact with firecracker smoke. Encourage children to remain in the house or in well-ventilated areas during a firework display.

Wear protective eyewear: In the event that children have to go outside during a firework display, they should wear protective eyewear such as goggles or sunglasses.

Rinse eyes thoroughly: In case of exposure of firework smoke to the child’s eyes, the affected eyes should be washed with plenty of clean water.

Seek medical attention: If a child suffers from intense pain in the eyes, redness in the eyes or any changes in vision after exposure to cracker smoke, he/she should be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible.

Parental Guidance During Diwali

1.⁠ ⁠Educate Children on Firecracker Safety

2.⁠ ⁠Monitor Air Quality Index (AQI)

3.⁠ ⁠Plan Indoor Activities During Peak Pollution Hours

4.⁠ ⁠Encourage Healthy Eye Habits (Regular Exams, Hygiene)

Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Firecrackers

1.⁠ ⁠Eco-Friendly Firecrackers

2.⁠ ⁠Laser Light Shows

3.⁠ ⁠Community Events (Parades, Festivals)

4.⁠ ⁠Indoor Games and Activities

5.⁠ ⁠Environmentally Conscious Celebrations

Firecrackers undoubtedly liven up the festivities; however, the use of firecrackers and their impact on the health of children has caused a lot of concern, especially their vision. It has become crucial to protect young developing eyes from fire cracker pollution which is harmful to them, especially in the long run. In this manner, we are able to assist in the preservation of our children’s eyesight and create safe and happy festive occasions for everyone.

Even as heatwave conditions continue to intensify across parts of the country, cases of heat-related illnesses are on the rise, leaving many confused between heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

While both are caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures, their severity, warning signs, and management can differ significantly.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Naval Vikram, Professor, Department of Medicine, at the AII India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), explained the key symptoms to watch out for, how to tell the difference between the two conditions, and the simple yet crucial steps individuals can take to protect themselves during extreme heat.

“The general features of a patient with heat stroke are: first, his or her body temperature will be very high. It will not be around normal levels like 104, 105, or 106—it will be significantly elevated. Second, the person may be delirious, confused, or even in a state of unconsciousness or coma. The breathing will also be labored. These are the features of heat stroke,” Dr Vikram said.

On the other hand, a person with heat exhaustion remains conscious, but looks and feels very tired. The individual is also likely to experience

• body ache,
• muscle pain,
• headache,
• muscle cramp,
• body pain or fatigue.

"If this has happened after exposure to heat, it is similar to the feeling one gets after jogging, running, or playing for about half an hour and then feeling exhausted. If that same feeling occurs without doing any such activity, then it is a stage of heat exhaustion, because it is happening due to the heat,” Dr Vikram told HealthandMe.

Who Is More At Risk With Heat-related Problems?

The most vulnerable category for heat-related problems is the extremes of age—the younger children and older adults.

The expert noted that younger children may not be able to express their symptoms completely. They may not be able to tell you exactly what they are feeling.

At the other end, older adults often have multiple health issues—neurological conditions, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney problems.

"So multiple organs may already be affected to some extent. In such situations, if heat-related illness occurs, it becomes difficult to diagnose, especially if they already have neurological problems like confusion or altered behavior," Dr Vikram said.

With existing comorbidities, other organs may already be compromised, so the tipping point towards severity happens very quickly. In contrast, younger individuals generally have greater body reserves.

Therefore, people at the extremes of age are more vulnerable, also because it can sometimes be difficult to recognize and diagnose the condition in them.

How Can One Prevent?

While it may be impossible to avoid rising temperatures, the focus should be on how much you can protect yourself. The expert suggested measures such as:

• Try to avoid exposure to extreme heat as much as possible.

• In case of being exposed, make sure to cover yourself—cover your head and upper body, use an umbrella, stay hydrated, and take breaks in between.

• If you have to work in a hot environment for a couple of hours, take a break in a cooler or temperature-controlled environment for at least half an hour before resuming, rather than continuously working in the heat. These steps can help prevent heat-related problems.

• If symptoms do occur, and it is heat exhaustion, take rest and avoid further activity for some time.

• In more severe cases—if someone shows symptoms like loss of consciousness or very high body temperature—they should be taken to a hospital immediately. Do not try to manage such cases at home.”

Complex pesticides can be now be found in food, water and the surrounding environment and while previous research has noted that they can cause damage to vital organs, a new Nature Health study has revealed that high-exposure to such chemicals can increase a person's risk of certain cancers by over 100 percent.

The researchers analyzed 31 pesticides across Peru and compared the health data from more than 150,000 cancer patients recorded between 2007 and 2020 with areas to discover that people living in regions with higher environmental pesticide exposure were 150 percent more at risk of developing cancer. It remains unclear which kind of cancers they are most prone to.

Stéphane Bertani, a researcher in molecular biology at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), at the PHARMA-DEV laboratory (IRD/University of Toulouse) said of the results: "This is the first time we have been able to link pesticide exposure, on a national scale, to biological changes suggesting an increased risk of cancer."

The study also highlights how pesticide exposure may affect the body long before cancer is diagnosed. Although tumors can develop in different organs, some share underlying biological weaknesses tied to their cellular origins and vulnerabilities which may be influenced by pesticide exposure.

Previous studies conducted at the Institut Pasteur, led by Pascal Pineau, also show that pesticides can slowly interfere with processes that maintain normal cell function and identity.

Over time, these disruptions accumulate without obvious symptoms and make tissues more susceptible to other harmful influences, including infections, inflammation and environmental stress, paving the way for cancer development.

Pesticides Can Also Increase Risk Of Lung Cancer

The research from the University of Southern California, presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, found that patients under 50 diagnosed with lung cancer often had better-than-average diets. The experts zeroed in on the culprit, pesticide exposure from conventionally grown produce.

"Our research shows that younger non-smokers who eat a higher quantity of healthy foods than the general population are more likely to develop lung cancer," said lead investigator Jorge Nieva, a medical oncologist and lung cancer specialist with USC.

"These counter-intuitive findings raise important questions about an unknown environmental risk factor for lung cancer related to otherwise beneficial food that needs to be addressed," Nieva added.

Pesticides In Healthy Foods — A Hidden Risk

According to the researchers, the reason may lie in environmental exposure, particularly pesticides used in agriculture. Nieva noted that commercially produced (non-organic) fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are more likely to carry higher levels of pesticide residue compared to dairy, meat, and many processed foods.

He also pointed out that agricultural workers who are regularly exposed to pesticides tend to have higher rates of lung cancer, which supports the possibility of a connection.

The study also found that young women who do not smoke are diagnosed with lung cancer more often than men in the same age group. Women in the study also tended to consume more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains than men.

Kidney stone incidences increase significantly in the summer months; the main reason for this increase is the effect of summer on people's hydration levels. As we get hotter, we sweat a lot, and when we sweat, we lose fluids. If we don't drink enough fluids to replace what we have lost through sweating, our urine will become more concentrated.

Concentrated urine provides a good environment to crystallize minerals, calcium, oxalate, uric acid, and eventually create stones.

In hot weather, it is easy for people to think that they don't need to drink as much water as they really do. The effects of mild dehydration can have a major impact on how many liters of urine a person produces, which is one of the most significant contributors to protecting against developing kidney stones.

When urine production decreases, waste products in the urine become less diluted, so the chances of forming crystals are increased. People who do not exercise much or who don't pay attention to their hydration habits can be at greater risk than others for developing kidney stones.

Poor eating habits in the summertime can add to the problem. Increasing your consumption of salty and processed foods can raise your calcium excretion in the urine, leading to more stones. A high intake of animal protein can increase your uric acid level and decrease your citrate level, a natural inhibitor of stones. Many people will also reduce the amount of fluids and water-rich foods they consume when travelling or working, which further increases the risk of developing stones.

Another factor that isn’t frequently considered is delaying urination. Holding urine for long periods will cause the minerals to settle in the urinary tract and may crystallize, which increases the likelihood of developing stones. Delaying urination in combination with dehydration provides the ideal environment for the formation of stones.

It is important to know and recognize the early symptoms of kidney stones so that you can seek help in a timely manner. Symptoms to watch for are:

• Severe flank pain (back or side),
• burning sensation when urinating,
• nausea and vomiting,
• blood in urine.

Failure to seek treatment for these symptoms can result in complications, such as urinary tract infection or obstruction due to kidney stones.

There are several commonly used methods of preventing kidney stones during the summer months, and they involve very basic lifestyle changes. Consistently drinking enough water so that your urine is clear or light in color is the single most important thing you can do to avoid a kidney stone.

Limiting your intake of additional salt and moderating your animal protein consumption will help as well. Including citrus fruits (lemons and oranges) in your diet may also prevent kidney stones, because they contain citrates, which help to inhibit the formation of kidney stones.

By using proper hydration, good nutrition, and an awareness of the early warning signs of kidney stones, your kidney stone risk will be considerably lowered throughout the summer months.