Though Holi is the festival of colours, harmful chemicals used in colours sold in the market, adulterated food items and burning of large quantities of wood in the Holika pyre could make this festival detrimental to both public health and the environment.
Addressing the media, the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) secretary Dr Brij Mohan Sharma said that the society had collected 100 samples of various Holi colors from markets of Dhamawala, Paltan Bazaar, Hanuman Chowk, Moti Bazaar, Karanpur, Dakra, Kanwali Road, Patelnagar, Majra, Panditwari, Premnagar and Jakhan in Dehradun. laboratory tests revealed various toxic chemicals and metals in these colours. These toxics can cause skin cancer, eye allergy, bronichal asthama and learning disability.
Most colours sold in the market contain metal oxides or industrial dyes. When washed, these colors can pollute soil and water systems. SPECS has also tested the so called organic colors available in the market and 52 per cent of the samples were found to be adulterated, said Sharma, while urging the public to use organic alternatives made from vegetables, flowers and spices like turmeric powder to colour each other on Holi.
He added that about 529 Holika pyres are slated to be lit in the name of Holi in Dehradun with around 500 to 1000 kg of wood to be used per pyre- costing Rs 19,80,750. Of the 25 Mawa samples collected and tested by SPECS 18 were found adulterated with harmful substances. Of the 18 adulterated samples, seven were completely synthetic containing urea, detergent and refined oil.