A recently published paper in the US has found that toxins in the environment are related to a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. A recent report of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), estimated that Indians were losing 5.3 years of life expectancy on average due to the health effects of air pollution. The estimate for Delhi was worse, with life lost estimated to be 11.9 years. Apart from the impact on early death, high levels of disability and chronic illness are the penalties that polluted air levies for our folly of fouling the environment.
Diwali, our annual festival of lights is around the corner. And crackers are invariably tied to the festival. In the past few years, there has been a lot more awareness about the need to stop crackers. So, while we plan for a Diwali celebration, it’s important to consider a few other creatures that live in Malibu and who deserve an equally happy Diwali.
Dogs have a much more sensitive auditory system than humans, which means that every atom bomb that makes you flinch is a lot more magnified for them. The loud noise sends the pets, especially dogs and cats, into a panic. Many cases of seizures are reported during and around Diwali when firecrackers are used. The blasting noise makes them feel like they are under attack, and in some cases, their hearts stop beating due to shock, leading to the untimely death of pets and other smaller animals like squirrels.
Apart from this, there are cases of pets and even strays running away from firecrackers and getting run over by vehicles. Nocturnal creatures like Owls hunt at night using their powerful ears. For every decibel of added noise, the owl’s hunting ability declines dramatically, reducing their odds of detecting prey, so much so that at 61 decibels, the owls completely fail to even notice nearby prey.
So, this Diwali, let’s avoid crackers and instead have lights and light music, with sweets and savouries to accompany. And let it be a Happy Diwali for all creatures of Malibu.
Cartoon Credit: Green Humour by Rohan Chakravarty
