HOLI - BAD EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL COLORS

How can Chemical Holi colours affect us?

Here is a list of common colours with the harmful substance they contain and the health effects that substance might have on you or your baby:

Chemical	Colour	Harmful effects
Mercury sulphite	Red	Skin cancer, impaired vision, paralysis Mercury can pass through the placenta to a growing baby and affect fetal growth, the nervous system, cause disability and in extreme cases even prove fatal.
Lead oxide	Black	Renal failure and skin irritation. Lead crosses the placenta and is transferred to the unborn baby. It can cause damage to the nervous system. It also increases the risk of miscarriage, having a low birth weight baby or premature birth.
Prussian blue	Blue	Skin irritation or dermatitis.
Copper Sulphate and malachite green	Green	Eye allergy, temporary blindness, or watering, soreness and redness of the eyes. It can pass through the placenta. It can affect fetal growth and cause damage to the skeletal system and in some cases can be fatal.
Chromium iodide	Purple	Bronchial asthma, Allergies
Aluminium Bromide	Silver	Carcinogenic
Gentian violet	Purple	Skin allergies or discolouration, dermatitis and irritation of mucous membrane. In the concentrated form, it can cause more serious eye problems like keratoconjunctivitis and dark purple staining of the cornea.

Other harmful substances found in Holi colours and their health effects are:

• Chromium: Can cause bronchial asthma, allergies.
• Nickel: Can cause dermatitis pneumonia.
• Cadmium: Can cause weak and brittle bones (Itai Itai disease).
• Zinc: Can lead to fever.
• Iron: Can cause skin sensitivity to light.
• Mica (abeer): This is a shiny powder used to give colours a metallic look. It can cause skin allergies and irritation.

Some colours contain oxidized metals and permanent chemical dyes. These colours do not wash off and stay on the skin for several days if they are allowed to dry. They are often referred to as pucca or permanent colours. These colours may also include ingredients like engine oils, grease, chemicals and solvents.

Even colours that you are used to playing with might have unexpected effects on you now that you are pregnant. During pregnancy, your immunity is not as strong and your skin may be more sensitive.

Young babies also have very delicate skin and immature immune systems. It is best not to put any colours on babies younger than six months because of their delicate skin. A red sandalwood tika should be enough to symbolically celebrate the festival.

Note: Not enough research has been done on Holi colours to be able to say how much passes into the body. We also do not know how much of these substances need to absorbed for them to induce the above mentioned health effects.
(Source : Collected from various healthcare websites and consultation with may skin & child specialists)



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