India, Oct. 15 -- With several major festivals approaching, Awaaz Foundation, a nonprofit, on Wednesday wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the presence of potentially hazardous chemicals in 'green' firecrackers on sale in the city.

In the letter, environmental activist and Awaaz Foundation founder Sumaira Abdulali said the nonprofit had procured 17 varieties of firecrackers from Mohammed Ali Road and Kurla on October 9-10 and had them tested. The reports revealed significant quantities of barium in crackers which were labelled 'green' or sustainable, it said.

Barium content was as high as 27.405% in a product named 'Serpent Egg Big' by Sri Patrakali Paper Caps, while in 'Pooja Plain' by Sriram Sparkelers, barium content...