Abstract

Air pollution has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Various clinical studies revealed that prominent air pollutants including ground level ozone (O3) and Particulate Matter (PM) are strongly linked with increased cardiovascular disease such as Myocardial Infarction (MI), cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic stroke, vascular dysfunction, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Ozone at the surface level is a strong oxidising agent that induces cardiovascular mortality due to embolism and thrombosis, ischemic heart disease, and stroke. Long-term exposure to PM results in hypertension and increased abdominal adiposity and chronic inflammation which leads to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death, mortality after stroke and heart failure. One of the main events of spontaneous enhancement in air pollution is the coordinated fireworks associated with festivals. Spectacular fireworks displays are the most attractive part of festivals in India and the smoke of which contains toxic air pollutants, fine metallic powders added for colour display, and the secondary air pollutant O3 in the ambient air. We noticed a pronounced increase in the hospital admission in the Asthma Clinic in a Government hospital in the subsequent days after the intense fireworks during the Vishu festival at Kannur. This paper highlights the susceptibilities of children and elders who are the two groups highly sensitive to the smoke emitted by the fireworks.

Keywords: Cardiorespiratory cases; Vishu fireworks; Air pollution; Ozone; PM2.5