CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) will be monitoring noise pollution in 17 places and air pollution in six places in the city on Deepavali day, its eve and the day after.

During a similar survey last year, a maximum of 93.4 decibels was recorded at Triplicane, a TNPCB release said. The residential area standard is 55 db and 65 db for a commercial area. The TNPCB appealed to residents to abide by the Supreme Court order that bans bursting of crackers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. It has asked shopkeepers to only sell crackers with a noise level of 125 dbs and below.

Crackers are sometimes manufactured using barium sulphate, sodium nitrate, sulphur and potassium chlorate and when burnt, emit gases such as sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of heavy metals and particulate matter that pollute the air and cause eye irritation, respiratory disorders and allergies.

The TNPCB has requested the public to refrain from bursting crackers such as atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, bullet bombs, thousand and ten thousand wallas. Those who violate the Supreme Court rules will face imprisonment and will have to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000.