Diwali is the worst time for India's air. Each time you burst a cracker, it produces a lot of poisonous dust. Scientists call this particulate matter. The tiniest particles (PM 2.5) are the most dangerous. How toxic are different crackers? Use our pollution meter to find out.

Notes

Air quality data for different cities is an average sourced from Hindustan Times' air quality portal. Data on how much pollution different crackers cause is based on a study by the Pune-based Chest Research Foundation (CRF). The study was conducted in an open area and measured PM 2.5 values from a distance that one would ideally maintain from a given cracker. According to the study, the affect of firecrackers on your immediate surroundings diminishes over time but the times varies depending on the pollutant. The simulation takes that time into account. Data was last updated at 4:30 p.m. on October 10, 2017.