05/21/2024 - Work Study - Additional Docs-FireworksForbes
Festive Fireworks Create Harmful Pall Of Pollution
GrrlScientist
Senior Contributor
Dec 31, 2019,12:44pm EST
Fireworks create highly toxic gases and pollutants that poison the air, the water and the soil, making them toxic to birds, wildlife, pets, livestock — and people — but there are environmentally-frie
ndly alternatives available
/
Ehang UAV drone light show, featuring 1,374 drones as voxels, dancing over the City Wall of Xi’an, China
For some strange reason, people around the world have decided that the best way to mark important holidays and events is to have a public fireworks show. We choose to celebrate the birth
of a New Year, the freedom of our nation, the triumph of good over evil, by blowing things up. Most of us are aware that fireworks are dangerous: we either know someone, or know of someone,
who ended up in the hospital emergency room due to fireworks, but most people
are completely unaware of the more insidious environmental damages and health impacts caused by fireworks.
Basically, a firework is a small pyrotechnic missile that explodes in a very specific way, creating loud explosions and bursts of brightly colored light. But all those brillantly colored
explosions are just where the trouble starts.
The Toxic Elements of Fireworks — Pick Your Poison
The colors of fireworks are the result of chemistry and physics made visible. Specifically, fireworks’ colors depend upon solid metal salts and chemical explosives (this is the chemistry
part) that create colors when heated to the correct temperatures (this is the physics part).
Different metal compounds give different colors. For example, lithium (Li) salts produce pink, sodium (Na) salts make yellow or orange, copper (Cu) and barium (Ba) salts generate green
or blue, and calcium (Ca) or strontium (Sr) give red.
/
Chemistry Of Fireworks.
COMPOUND CHEMISTRY VIA A CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
Although the heavy metals in fireworks experience a temporary physical change, the metal salts and explosives in the fireworks undergo chemical changes by combining with oxygen (combustion).
This chemical reaction releases smoke and gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen, and these are some of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.
During the explosion, these metal salts do not ‘burn up’. They are still metal atoms, and many of them are end up as aerosols that poison the air, the water and the soil. When inhaled
or ingested, these metals can cause a huge variety of short- and long-term reactions, ranging from vomiting, diarrhea or asthma attacks, to kidney disease, cardiotoxic effects and a
variety of cancers.
Fireworks create a toxic fog of fine particulates, poisonous aerosols and heavy metals
The most obvious result of a fireworks show is air pollution. But how polluted is the air? The Air Quality Index was designed to measure daily concentrations of air-borne pollutants,
such as fine particulate matter, aerosols and other pollutants. (You might enjoy looking at this real-time air quality index listing to see how your air compares.) The Air Quality Index
values range from 0 to 500, with anything above 401 classified as ‘severe’ that can seriously affect healthy people and those with existing respiratory illnesses.
/
Air Quality Index (Credit: American Lung Association / public domain)
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION / PUBLIC DOMAIN
During the recent Diwali festival of lights in 2019, the concentrations of air-borne pollutants were pushed even higher than normal in already severely polluted Dehli. This festival
features lots of fireworks, and the resulting
emissions maxed out the Air Quality Index at 500 in several parts of that city, including the international airport, according to the government’s Central Pollution Control Board.
But more than adding a huge amount of fine particulate matter to the air we breathe, fireworks also add dangerous gases and aerosols to the atmosphere. For example, one study found that
fireworks create a “burst” of ozone (ref), which is an extremely reactive greenhouse gas molecule that can attack and irritate the lungs. Although normally created by ultraviolet light
present in sunlight, this study found that the ozone was created in the dead of night by ultraviolet light created by sparklers.
But in addition to ozone and air-borne fine particulate matter, a 2007 study found that fireworks increased nitric oxide (NO) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), and also created and dispersed
an aerosol cloud containing a variety of metallic elements (ref). These pollutants were highly concentrated and the particles were, on average, small enough to be easily inhaled — which
poses a health risk to sensitive individuals and significantly adds to the total annual concentrations of metal emissions.
India isn’t the only country that experiences dangerous increases in air-borne particulates, gaseous pollutants and metallic emissions. A 3 week study in London, spanning two major festivals
that are celebrated with fireworks, found increased gas phase pollutant levels of nitric oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which are primary contributors to acid rain as well as
important climate change gases that also serve to irritate the lungs and throat. This study also found elevated mass concentrations of fine particulates, and trace concentrations of
heavy metals, specifically strontium (Sr), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) (ref).
But how much more of these heavy metals can just one fireworks show add to the atmosphere? Surely, not much? No, not so. A case study found that within 1 hour of fireworks displays,
strontium levels in the air increased 120 times, magnesium 22 times, barium 12 times, potassium 11 times, and copper (Cu) 6 times more than the amount already present in the air before
the event (ref).
Pollutants released by fireworks travel far from their origin. Several studies revealed that in mild weather, tagged heavy metals used in pyrotechnics traveled 100 km (62 miles) downwind
over a two-day period (i.e.; ref & ref). Among the pollutants traced were: strontium, vanadium (V), potassium, titanium (Ti), barium, copper, lead, magnesium, aluminum (Al) and zinc
(Zn). These heavy metals add to the toxic pollution in the air. Further, the environmental impacts of these emissions are not confined to the air because these heavy metals are washed
out of the air by rainfall, and accumulate in — and pollute — local watersheds.
Whilst most urban areas have fireworks displays on two or three nights per year, theme parks such as Disneyland and Disney World have, on average, 230 15-minute shows each year (they
cancel their nightly scheduled shows when the weather is poor). Making these theme parks the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States. According to a 2003 report, the Disney
parks use 90,000 pounds of fireworks every year (link) — a figure that may be much higher now. Not to be outdone, the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios have more than one
show on most nights.
Despite the ephemeral nature of fireworks, the toxic chemicals they add to the environment are permanent, and every year, we add more to this toxic mix. And of course, don’t forget that
there are many other sources of environmental
pollution, and the accumulation of all these toxic chemicals is deeply concerning.
Health impacts of pyrotechnic pollution
Currently, there is not much published research that focuses specifically on the health impacts of fireworks, but they do use a variety of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic chemicals (PBTs)
to create their effects. We do know PBTs remain in the environment for very long periods of time, that they are highly resistant to degradation, and they easily enter and quickly accumulate
in the food chain.
That said, a 2010 study used epidemiological data to estimate the likely health impacts from fireworks pollution and found that the relative risk of cardiovascular mortality increased
to as high as 125.11% and the relative risk for cardiovascular morbidity increased by 175.16% over a regular winter day (ref).
Further, hospital admissions for asthma and other breathing problems peak the day following a fireworks display.
/
Some of the health and environmental impacts of fireworks shows. (Credit: Andy Brunning / Compound ... [+]
ANDY BRUNNING VIA A CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
Pyrotechnic pollution in the environment
Thanks to climate change-triggered droughts, clean and safe drinking water is becoming ever more precious — and rare. Despite this, many urban fireworks shows are held over, or adjacent
to, a body of water to reduce the likelihood of fire. This, of course, increases a plethora of fireworks pollutants in water. For example, one study found perchlorate concentrations
in surface water of a municipal lake located next to a fireworks show spiked 14 hours afterwards, reaching levels from 24 to 1028 times the mean baseline value, and decreased back to
background levels within 20 to 80 days (ref). (Perchlorate is an inorganic chemical used in fireworks and other explosives.) Another study
found perchlorate in groundwater and surface water, especially in the vicinity of fireworks manufacturing sites and fireworks display sites (ref).
Although there is a fairly large body of work on perchlorate pollution, the health and ecological impacts of perchlorate have not been fully assessed. Nevertheless, the evidence shows
that perchlorate contaminants are emerging as potent thyroid disruptors, with far-reaching ecological impacts too (ref).
But let’s not neglect the impacts of heavy metal pollutants in already polluted urban areas. A 2016 study in Spain found marked increases of heavy metals in the park located in the city
center, where the fireworks were launched, as well as outside the park as the toxic cloud of fine dust and heavy metals pollution drifted over the city center (ref). Further, this study
noted that levels of some metals remained elevated above background for days after the event as a reservoir of metal-containing dust persisted within the urban area where it could be
easily inhaled.
Although it’s often overlooked, sudden loud noises, such as those created by fireworks explosions, are a health hazard too. Not only are these sounds inescapable, but fireworks can damage
hearing (ref), trigger mental health episodes in those who suffer from PTSD (ref), and can lead to life-threatening injuries to pets, livestock, wildlife and birds (more here, here and here).
It’s also worth pointing out that whilst airports, such as Los Angeles International, compensate neighborhoods that are impacted by aircraft noise, for-profit entertainment parks, such
as Disneyland, are not held to the same level of accountability. Why are fireworks shows so special?
You know, there ARE other ways to celebrate important events
Every firework purchase represents much more than the bright lights and big bangs they produce. Fireworks are a polluting product, starting with their creation and fading away to an
obscure end that stretches far into a smoggy distant future. Fireworks are also a distraction from what is really important: the reason for the holiday itself.
You can adopt any one of a variety of alternative activities to mark important events to help you honor the holiday without harming people’s health, polluting the environment, and creating
so much havoc. For example, I have gone birding or bicycling on most of my holidays. But you might prefer to attend a parade, organize a block party or community drumming circle, or
you might wish to go hiking and camping, star gazing, or help others by volunteering at a local “soup kitchen” or homeless shelter. There are countless activities for you to adopt which
are limited only by your imagination.
You can help your local civic leaders by strongly encouraging them to substitute an annual community drone or laser light show for fireworks (keeping in mind, of course, laser light
shows consume a lot of electricity, but they do not create pollution.)
In view of these facts — which don’t even take into account the tremendous financial expense of fireworks, the widespread toxic litter cleanup, security costs and increased risk of fires
— I ask you: are fireworks displays worth the variety of damages they create? Is this really how we want to spend our money and time?
Sources:
Dabrina D. Dutcher, Kevin D. Perry, Thomas A. Cahill, and Scott A. Copeland (1999). Effects of indoor pyrotechnic displays on the air quality in
the Houston Astrodome, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 49:156–160 | doi:10.1080/10473289.1999.10463790
Arun K. Attri, Ujjwal Kumar & V. K. Jain (2001). Formation of ozone by fireworks, Nature, 411:1015 | doi:10.1038/35082634
Teresa Moreno, Xavier Querol, Andrés Alastuey, Mari Cruz Minguillón, Jorge Pey, Sergio Rodriguez, José Vicente Miró, Carles Felis and Wes Gibbons (2007). Recreational atmospheric pollution
episodes: Inhalable metalliferous particles from firework displays, Atmospheric Environment, 41(5):913-922 | doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.09.019
Roberta Vecchi, Vera Bernardoni, Diana Cricchio, Alessandra D’Alessandro, Paola Fermo, Franco Lucarelli, Silvia Nava, Andrea Piazzalunga and Gianluigi Valli (2008). The impact of fireworks
on airborne particles, Atmospheric Environment, 42(6):1121-1132 | doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.10.047
Krystal J. Godri, David C. Green, Gary W. Fuller, Manuel Dall’Osto, David C. Beddows, Frank J. Kelly, Roy M. Harrison and Ian S. Mudway (2010). Particulate Oxidative Burden Associated
with Firework Activity, Environmental Science & Technology, 44(21):8295-8301 | doi:10.1021/es1016284
B. Thakur, S. Chakrabarty, A. Debesarkar and R. C. Srivastava (2010). Air pollution from fireworks during festival of lights (Deepawali) in Howrah, India — a case study, Atmósfera, 23(4):347-365
(PDF)
Kevin D. Perry (2011). Effects of Outdoor Pyrotechnic Displays on the Regional Air Quality of Western Washington State, Journal of the Air
& Waste Management Association, 49(2):146-155 | doi:10.1080/10473289.1999.10463791
M. R. Sijimol and Mahesh Mohan (2014). Environmental impacts of perchlorate with special reference to fireworks—a review, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186(11):7203-7210 |
doi:10.1007/s10661-014-3921-4
Teresa Moreno, Xavier Querol, Andrés Alastuey, Fulvio Amato, Jorge Peya, Marco Pandolfi, Nino Kuenzli, Laura Bouso, Marcela Rivera and Wes Gibbons (2016). Effect of fireworks events
on urban background trace metal aerosol concentrations: Is the cocktail worth the show? Journal of Hazardous Materials, 183(1–3):945-949 | doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.07.082
-END-
/
The hidden toll of July Fourth fireworks
By Madeleine Stone
Using crowdsourced data from home air quality monitors, scientists found that vulnerable people and communities of color are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from firework
celebrations.
It’s no secret that fireworks can cause some serious air pollution, in the United States as well as in other countries where holiday displays are common, like China and India. But not
everyone is equally at risk from the noxious particles that suffuse the sky during our pyrotechnic light shows. In California, for example,
vulnerable populations are more exposed to fireworks pollution on the Fourth of July.
That’s according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on air pollution exposure across the state due to Independence Day
fireworks. At its peak, the smoke from these events can be comparable to that from wildfires, the study found. The authors also showed that fireworks smoke may be creating an additional—albeit
short term—health risk for communities already disproportionately burdened by air pollution: Urban ones with higher rates of asthma, more older residents, and a greater percentage of
children under 10. These areas also tended to have more Black and Hispanic residents than those with less Fourth of July air pollution.
The high-risk communities identified in the study have “perpetual exposure to hazardous environmental toxins,” says Aisha Dickerson, an environmental epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins
University who wasn’t involved with the paper. “This aggravates an already prevalent and persistent issue.”
Where there’s fire, there’s smoke
Fireworks don’t just produce colorful, crackling light displays: They also create puffs of smoke. What’s less widely known is that the smoke can be dangerous. Fireworks smoke includes particulate
matter—an asthma trigger and a leading contributor to respiratory disease—as well as a cocktail of toxic metals like strontium, barium, and lead.
And while the pollution from a single fireworks display tends to dissipate quickly, many fireworks being set off over the Fourth of July can cause regional air pollution levels to spike and
remain elevated for several days, posing a potentially serious health risk to vulnerable populations.
“There are very few studies that have looked at the association between fireworks related air pollution and health,” says Pallavi Pant, an air pollution researcher at the nonprofit Health
Effects Institute who has studied pollution during festivals. “However, the concentrations can be high enough to trigger health effects, especially for children and older adults and
those living with respiratory diseases.”
Not much is known about who is most exposed. Most research on Independence Day fireworks pollution has relied on sparse, EPA-run air-quality stations that can reveal only trends at a
regional scale.
Crowd-sourced data
For the new study, the UC Irvine-based team of researchers took advantage of the recent proliferation of home air-quality monitors to explore how Fourth of July fireworks pollution varies
across communities in California. The scientists analyzed publicly crowdsourced data from 751 commercial PurpleAir sensors in private residences across the state during June and July
of 2019 and 2020.
In both years, the team looked at county and census district-level patterns in fine, inhalable particles less than 2.5 micrometers across, called PM2.5. To determine whether certain
populations are more exposed to this pollution, the researchers compared the 2019 results with state-reported data on racial demographics, socioeconomic status, health indicators, and
more.
The researchers found that Fourth of July fireworks pollution, although transient, can be significant. In Orange County, hourly levels of PM2.5 rose up to three times higher than normal
on July 4, 2019, while Los Angeles County pollution levels soared up to 10 times higher than average on July 4, 2020. The festivities in the L.A. metro area last year produced as much
smoke as a moderate wildfire.
/
/
Vulnerable populations appear to be more exposed to this pollution: On average, the authors found that PM2.5 spikes around the Fourth of July were higher in urban census tracts in Southern
California, areas that tend to have higher asthma rates, more older individuals and small children, and more Black and Hispanic residents, compared with rural census tracts and those
further north. Southern California metropolitan areas also tend to have fewer restrictions on municipal fireworks shows and looser oversight of at-home fireworks use compared with their
counterparts in Northern California.
“L.A. has less stringent policies regarding bigger fireworks shows and purchases by residents,” says Jun Wu, a professor of public health at UC Irvine and the senior author on the study.
Dickerson says she’d expect to see a similar pattern of exposure to fireworks-related air pollutants elsewhere around the country.
“A lot of the fireworks displays typically happen in the bigger cities, especially along coastal communities, and lower income [minority] communities typically are closer to those ports,”
she says.
Compound threats
The consequences of poor enforcement of fireworks regulations were laid bare last Fourth of July, when the cancellation of municipal fireworks displays due to the coronavirus pandemic
prompted many people to purchase online and shoot off illegal fireworks, including bottle rockets and aerial shells at home. (In California, only non-aerial fireworks like sparklers
are allowed for at-home use.) As a result, fireworks pollution was elevated across California in 2020 compared with 2019. Considering the established link between air pollution and
more severe COVID-19 outcomes, Wu says last year’s pyrotechnics might have worsened the pandemic.
She’s expecting this Fourth of July to also feature higher levels of at-home, illegal fireworks activity, noting that in her neighborhood, she’s been hearing telltale explosions for
the last few days. Elsewhere in the state, residents have been complaining to authorities about fireworks noise for weeks, according to the New York Times.
Compounding the risks of fireworks this year, much of the West is currently in the grips of a historic drought, while the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada are emerging from a record
heat wave. These conditions have primed the West for wildfires—and each year, Fourth of July fireworks celebrations are one of the most predictable sources of ignition. Wildfires also
produce dangerous smoke, notes Michael Kleinman, an air pollution researcher at UC Irvine who wasn’t involved with the paper.
“While these [wildfire smoke] spikes are not as intense as the fireworks spikes, they now occur nearly year-round,” Kleinman wrote in an email. “These can in turn elicit increased incidences
of severe health effects for sensitive or susceptible individuals.”
Given all the risks, Wu suggests it’s time for city and local governments to more aggressively crack down on illegal fireworks—something several California cities are attempting to do
this year—and consider shifting to other types of public displays, such as drone light shows. Individuals susceptible to air pollution can limit their exposure on the Fourth of July
by wearing masks or watching the show from indoors, Wu says.
Dickerson agrees that masks are a “reasonable and feasible public health measure.”
“Wearing a mask is not this foreign concept anymore,” she says.
-END-
INDY STAR
Fireworks put harmful particles in the air that can make it more difficult to breathe
Lorena Villanueva-AlmanzaIP
Indianapolis' large downtown fireworks display might have been canceled this year, but in many Indy neighborhoods and other local cities, the show went on — and the fireworks went off.
The sky over places such as Carmel, Lebanon, Noblesville, Cicero and Moorseville filled with colorful bursts of light. And also, in some cases, smoke, which can make it harder to breathe,
especially for individuals with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Particle pollution, or particulate matter, comes in two main sizes: PM10, short for particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers, is the size of some types of pollen or mold.
And PM2.5, particles with a diameter as less than 2.5 micrometers, are as fine as 3% the diameter of a human hair.
The source of those finer air pollutants is mostly related to human activities, such as driving cars, house heating, factory emissions, and occasionally, fireworks.
As they illuminated the sky on July 4, levels of PM2.5 increased as well.
Most cities did not exceed the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards limit for fine particulate matter during the 24 hours when fireworks were launched for Independence Day. Still,
the national average concentration was 42% higher than the days before and after the holiday, according to a 2015 analysis of 315 cities across the country.
Display fireworks organized by cities and counties might be expected to be responsible for most of this air pollution, but money suggests otherwise. According to the American Pyrotechnic
Association, consumer fireworks that can be bought at grocery stores, generated $1 billion in revenue in 2019. That is well above the $375 million that came from display fireworks,
the association said.
According to daily data from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, particulate matter concentration exceeded the 24-hour limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter on July 4 this
year in downtown Indianapolis and remained very close to the limit the next day — unlike last year where levels both days remained under the limit.
The mix of warm and humid air this year are also responsible for the increased levels of particulate matter seen during the holiday.
“The main peak occurs around 10 at night on July 4, and then continues on as particulates slowly get scrubbed out of the air," said Gabriel Filippelli, director of the Center for Urban
Health at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. "Last year that peak was more obvious because the air quality was better. This year air quality, starting probably at the
beginning of July, has been getting a little bit worse, because the heat has increased and that's made some of the particulate matter a little bit worse.”
In most cases, temperature decreases with altitude, meaning air gets colder in the upper parts of the atmosphere. Sometimes the opposite happens: Cold air
remains closer to the ground than warm air. The cooler air, along with air pollutants like fine particulate matter, gets trapped by the lid of warmer air above. This is known as temperature
inversion.
“Humid days also tend to be indicative of an inversion layer," explained Filippelli, "which just effectively traps these fine particulate particles near the ground level.”
Similar situations have been reported in Los Angeles and Denver. According to the LA Times, “this year, the PM2.5 pollution appeared to be more concentrated and linger for longer even
compared with past holidays.” Since fires are also sources of these fine contaminants, they could also be driving this increase on the West Coast.
In addition to EPA and DNR monitors, Filippelli uses data from a network of 32 sensors he has set up on people’s homes on the east side of Indianapolis. These sensors came from a partnership
with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful that used funds from the Indiana University's Grand Challenge. People become a network of citizen scientists and learn something about the air around
their neighborhoods, while scientists “learn for the first time what the micro fabric of air pollution in Indianapolis is,” he said.
These microfabric estimates allowed Filippelli to see minute-by-minute changes in particulate matter concentration in the days leading up to the July holiday.
“Pretty much the biggest sustained peak for the last week was the night of the Fourth of July," he said. "It went up to unsafe levels. From the morning of the Fourth to the evening,
it increased by about five times in terms of particulate matter.”
The minute particles that stick around in the air after the lights go off are the result of a combustion process from fireworks burning. The inner workings of
these devices depend on three basic components: oxidizer, fuel, and mineral pellets, responsible for the colors.
One might think that given their weaker explosive power, consumer fireworks are less harmful. But the burning of metal and mineral salts found in firecrackers, artillery shells, or poppers
are bad both for the environment and lungs.
Researchers from the Department of Environmental Medicine at New York University burned 12 types of fireworks in a steel chamber, and collected the particulate matter that usually remain in
the air. They exposed human lung and bronchial cells grown on an artificial medium as well as mice to the debris they collected.
They wanted to see if this seemingly inoffensive dust was capable of swelling cells — or creating a negative and inflammatory response. They found that the amount and effects of particulate
matter on cells vary depending on the type of firework. The most harmful fireworks contained high amounts of copper and lead, the research showed, which caused the greatest swelling
response in mice.
The finding of lead in the Black Cuckoo and one type of Saturn Missiles fireworks was surprising to Terry Gordon, professor at the Department of Environmental Medicine at NYU and last
author of the publication.
Lead is prohibited in the fabrication of fireworks according to the American Pyrotechnic Association standard and by the American Fireworks Standard Laboratory.
When it comes to choosing fireworks, Gordon recommend sticking to simple lights and staying upwind. “If I had a family (and) were outside," he said, "sparklers don't raise the concern
with me because they usually burn magnesium.”
Lorena Villanueva-Almanza is the 2020 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at the Indianapolis Star. She earned her PhD from the University of California Riverside in 2019 where she studied the taxonomy
and ecology of Washingtonia, a group of palms found in southern California and Baja California, Mexico. She’s on Twitter as @lorevial.
-END-
Earth.org
Crowd-Pleasing Fireworks Are Not So Pleasing to the Planet
POLLUTION CRISES BY JESSICA HAN GLOBAL COMMONS APR 19TH 2023 11 MINS READ
/
Fireworks are used to please crowds, celebrate big holidays, and end festivals with a bang – literally. But at what environmental cost? Especially
when climate change has made its way to the forefront of the planet, it is important to consider the environmental impact of fireworks.
Society has a growing (and strange) desire to set off and watch explosives for the sake of entertainment and celebratory purposes.
According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, consumer fireworks, which are low-hazard and used for recreational purposes, reached a consumption of 416.3 million pounds in the
United States in 2021, while display fireworks, high-hazard and used professionally, amounted to 12.5 million pounds. This totalled an overall American consumption of 428.8 million
pounds in 2021, 24.3 million pounds more than in 2020, and 155.8 million more than in 2019.
On the business side, fireworks are a profitable industry where the average retail price for consumers to buy fireworks is about three times the wholesale price. In other words, a consumer
buying one case of fireworks for $100 can result in a profit of $300 for the business owner.
Fireworks, as spectacular when displayed and profitable when sold, are a real-life horror show for the environment. Put aside the thought of entertainment and moneymaking for a few minutes
because the planet we live on is hurting from fireworks.
What Are Fireworks?
In order to understand the damaging effects a firework has on the environment, it is necessary to first understand what fireworks really are.
The most basic component that all fireworks have is black powder, also known as gunpowder. When black powder – which is made from a mixture of 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and
10% sulphur – is placed inside a shell and ignited with a fuse, a loud, gaseous, and hot chemical reaction is created, essentially an explosion.
Exploding black powder does not seem very entertaining to watch, at least not to some. Mineral elements are mixed with black powder, providing colour to
these explosions. Some colours simply require one element to produce the targeted colour. For example, only strontium is needed to make red, sodium for yellow, and barium for green.
Other colours, such as orange, require a combination of mineral elements which are strontium and sodium, or purple necessitates a mix of strontium and copper. Additional chemicals,
such as carbon, sulphur, aluminium, and manganese, are added to the fireworks, functioning as stabilisers, oxidisers, and extra colours.
/The chemical composition of a firework. Graph: Penn Today/University of Pennsylvania.
Trained experts designing and handling fireworks, known as pyrotechnicians, measure the correct amount of black powder, mineral elements, and other chemicals, and arrange these compounds
under a specific order to provide the firework with a particular shape and colour. Pyrotechnicians also calculate the altitude of each firework so that explosions happen at the right
time and location. After everything is neatly calculated and wrapped together in a shell, a fuse is attached to the shell, and when lit, the chemical mixture reacts with the fuse’s
heat, and exploding fireworks ensue.
So now what? Fireworks explode, but where do all these chemicals go? One thing is for sure: what goes up must come down.
Still Up in the Air: The Environmental Impact of Fireworks
Chemicals from fireworks do not just disappear into thin air. When burned and exposed to oxygen, substances undergo a chemical reaction called combustion. This chemical reaction produces
two results: Short-lived entertainment and toxic atmospheric pollutants.
The temporary enjoyment of fireworks releases a host of contaminants that affect air quality and can contribute to climate change, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen,
sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter.
During the five-day celebration of Diwali in India – the world-famous festival of lights – about 50,000 tons, or 100 million pounds, of fireworks explode, causing a toxic haze to cover
cities.
Toxic hazes, also known as particle pollution, are created by particulate matter (PM), a combination of minuscule solid and liquid substances found in the air and considered the most
hazardous air pollutant due to its ability to affect people’s lungs and heart, along with causing environmental damage. In the case of India, PM found in the country’s air increased
up to 35 times on celebration days when fireworks were present compared to normal days.
Specifically, the city of Delhi had the highest amount of particulate matter back in 2017 when fireworks were used during Diwali, with an hourly PM2.5 concentration of 900 μg/m3.
PM2.5 are inhalable fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller. The measure (μg/m3) means one microgram of pollutant per cubic metre and micrograms are smaller than
milligrams but larger than nanograms. As a comparison, the average strand of human hair is 70 micrometers in diameter, approximately 30 times larger than a fine particle with two-point-five
micrometers in diameter.
In the case of Delhi, there were 900 micrograms of fine particles in one cubic metre of air in an hour during the firework-filled festival – a lot considering the World Health Organization air
quality guidelines state that the average concentration of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic metre of air in a year.
Similar situations occurred in other parts of the world. In central London, for example, a study shows increased particle pollutant concentration during nights with fireworks – all thanks
to the toxic elements and metals emitted from firework combustion.
Aside from larger concentrations of particulate matter, firework activity also increases harmful gaseous concentrations, carbon monoxide (toxic by hindering a living organism’s ability
to transport oxygen throughout its body), and nitric oxide (toxic by inhalation and skin absorption). The festival of Diwali in India is one example where there was a large spread of
these two gases.
Another occasion where there were increases in carbon monoxide, nitric oxide as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) was a firework event organised in celebration of Independence Day on July
4th in the United States. Researchers discovered that, when fireworks took place in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, the atmospheric concentration of carbon monoxide increased by 32%,
carbon dioxide grew by 17%, and nitric oxide fluctuated a bit before “doubling overnight.”
All these atmospheric pollutants produced by firework activity end up affecting the planet, resulting in changes in air temperature, humidity, air visibility, and other factors. During
firework displays, it was found that atmospheric heat content becomes greater, surface air temperature is elevated, and air visibility can decrease as much as 92%.
A Horror Show for Animals
Imagine being an animal, comfortably sleeping in your habitat, and suddenly being awakened by hearing a sequence of booming noises and witnessing unexpected bright flashes out of nowhere,
yet unable to escape – a horrifying experience. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many animals.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, animals “become … frightened by the noise and commotion of fireworks,” resulting in them becoming lost, abandoning their habitats,
and suffering from health consequences, whether it be stress or getting hit by a vehicle.
A study using GPS trackers conducted in three European countries – Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands – shows fireworks’ effects on Arctic migratory geese during the New Year’s Eve
celebration. The research revealed that the geese flew away from their sleeping sites in response to the fireworks. They never returned.
Likewise, the University of Amsterdam’s Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics used weather radars to detect how birds, mainly waterfowls, react to New Year’s Eve fireworks.
The radars showed that thousands of birds flew up to altitudes of 500 metres in the air after the explosions.
Compared to humans, animals are more sensitive to high-frequency noise, driving them to leave their young and disrupting their breeding and feeding behaviours. The Royal Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty (RSPCA) notes that the loud noises emitted from fireworks “are unpredictable and out of an animal’s control.”
“Being unpredictable, as well as intermittent and relatively infrequent, also makes it unlikely that animals will acclimatise to fireworks noise.”
In an extreme case, hundreds of birds, primarily starlings, were found dead on the streets of Rome, Italy, after the 2021 New Year’s Eve firework event. What was the cause of these deaths?
The International Organisation for the Protection of Animals (OIPA) believes it to be “related to a particularly loud display of firecrackers and fireworks.”
Aside from deafening noises and disruptive lights, the aftermath of a firework display consists of debris, such as shells and heavy metals, littered across the ground, providing opportunities
for animals to accidentally ingest these hazardous materials and potentially leading to illnesses. And it doesn’t stop there.
Fireworks also pose a threat of starting fires – hence the word “fire” in fireworks. In areas already susceptible to wildfires or when conditions are hotter and drier, embers and sparks
produced from ignited fireworks have a higher chance of creating a flame that can lead to a destructive wildfire, consequently harming wildlife and their habitats. And while climate
change has already increased the risk of longer and more frequent wildfires, fireworks only add to the potential threats. During the 2021 Fourth of July celebration in the US state
of Utah, a wildfire started following a firework show in the city of Centerville – an area already prone to wildfires – leading to the evacuation of almost 100 households.
While spectators are left with feelings of amazement and satisfaction, firework displays leave wild animals feelings of trauma and oftentimes injuries. Wildlife rehabilitation centres
have increased patients and calls of reported wildlife sightings on roads following firework-filled celebrations.
Bad for Soil, Worse for Waterbodies, Worst for the Ecosystem
It is already established that fireworks pollute the air and traumatise wildlife. What’s next? Ever think about how fireworks harm the planet’s surface and its abundant ecosystems?
Perchlorate, a chemical compound, is often added to fireworks, working as an oxidiser to facilitate their upward propulsion. Though, this chemical can affect the function of the thyroid
gland in large amounts. When fireworks burst into their colourful lights, chemical debris is left scattered across the ground. Perchlorate is one of them and it is often associated
with contaminating soil and water. This chemical remains in the environment for long periods, easily absorbed by neighbouring flora. When it ends up in waterbodies, it can also affect
fish development.
Scientists with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service studied perchlorate levels associated with fireworks found in soil, surface water, and groundwater
at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the US. They discovered that perchlorate was found in soil where fireworks
occurred and where debris settled. There were also increased levels of this chemical in surface water and groundwater because of past fireworks activities nearby.
Similar research took place in Kerala, India, where investigators collected water and soil samples after fireworks were launched. It revealed that both samples had concentrations of
perchlorate. It seems that wherever fireworks occur, perchlorate follows.
Chemicals found in soil and water are one problem, but fireworks can also contribute to microplastic pollution in water – plastic particles 5mm in diameter and less. The River of Thames
in England had an enormous (and rather shocking) increase in microplastic content following the New Year’s Eve firework show.
“Whilst we expected an increase in microplastics’ presence, we did not expect over a 1000% increase from the sample taken on the 30th December 2019 to the one taken 6 hours after the
firework display on the 1st January 2020 roughly 24 hours later,” describes Ria Devereux, one of the researchers of this investigation which took samples of water from the river to
examine the concentration of microplastics.
As explained earlier, fireworks release a number of emissions into the atmosphere, including particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitric oxide, to name a few. PM and nitric oxide
can stay in the atmosphere for a longer duration, causing these contaminants to be carried over to different regions. When PM, nitric oxide, along with sulphur dioxide, are transported
by wind and then mixed with oxygen, water, and other chemicals, acid rain arises. This harms ecosystems, especially ones in aquatic and forested conditions.
Particulate matter from fireworks can land on soil and water as well, altering nutrients in the soil and resulting in surface water becoming more acidic, with severe consequences on
ecosystems. Similarly, atmospheric sulphur components, such as sulphur dioxide, are able to damage leaves and disrupt the growth of trees and plants.
A Greener Alternative?
There is no hiding that fireworks are not the best for the environment. The short spectacle that happens worldwide at countless holidays and festivals leaves potent and long-lasting
footprints on the planet. Thus, there needs to be a call for change to minimise these effects, especially when climate change is in the limelight.
Some countries have decided to take political routes, implementing policies to reduce the environmental impacts of fireworks.
The city of Zhengzhou in China enforced a policy prohibiting fireworks in 2016 so that air pollution could improve. In 2018, the firework prohibition policy was reinforced, expanding
into other regions, which in turn, had considerable improvements in the Air Quality Index, progressing from the category of Unhealthy for Sensitive People to the Moderate one. Besides
Zhengzhou, Beijing decided to ban the use of fireworks before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics took place. This ban “helped China’s capital record its cleanest air for a Lunar New Year,”
as reported by the National Post.
/Air Quality Index (AQI). Graph: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
For those who desire firework-related entertainment, greener alternatives are on the rise.
Canadian cities located in the province of Alberta, like Banff and Canmore, replaced fireworks with special effects pyrotechnic displays, which are quieter and have a lower altitude,
in order to protect wildlife. The town of Collecchio in Italy also switched from standard fireworks to silent fireworks to help reduce stress on local wild animals. Although these fireworks
do not have the traditional loud bang, they still have their colourful and illuminated displays, making them a great and more environmentally friendly alternative.
Another better option is a drone display, similar to the one presented at the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Laser spectacles can replace fireworks, too, as they reduce
the risk of wildfires and do not increase air pollution. Salt Lake City in Utah, the United States, has been substituting some of the city’s fireworks with lasers during the Fourth
of July holiday to reduce environmental damage, and these lasers still have the same level of spectacle as fireworks.
The government administers many of these policies and greener alternatives. As an everyday person, it may seem challenging to voice just how harmful fireworks are. There is really no
need to fret. Even the smallest actions like writing to local government and politicians, spreading information through word-of-mouth or on social media, and signing petitions are all
steps towards creating awareness of the impacts that fireworks pose on the planet.
With the slew of problems that climate change bring existing at the front line of this world, it is vital to take all necessary actions to strive for a greener and healthier planet,
including taking action on the dazzling but damaging fireworks.
-END-