On fireworks

On fireworks

02 Jul 2007

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

Our family has always lit a fair amount of fireworks for our 4th of July celebration. I would like to encourage my family and friends to find other ways to celebrate due to the CO2 emissions that will result. However, I don't really know how much carbon is emitted. I already have to deal with the fact that many in my family are not taking climate change seriously, so I want to be knowledgeable when I state my case.

Donna
Elk Grove, Calif.

Dearest Donna,

Can one change a family tradition given only a few days of warning, let alone change it at all? Intra-family fireworks may result from your efforts to limit celebratory incendiary devices. But personal fireworks may be avoidable if your main concern is -- as it should be -- climate change. Although fireworks do give off carbon dioxide, they aren't known for their greenhouse-gas impacts. They do have other potentially toxic components, and pollute air and water. Toxic enough to stop once-annual use? I'm ambivalent.

The cons bursting in air.

Photo: iStockphoto

The basic ingredients of a firework seem fairly simple: a powder and a fuse will make a loud bang, just as they do with a gun, and that's called a firework. If the firework is physically designed to rocket, the explosion propels the rocketing element. There may be a delayed fuse, too, which will ignite various metals embedded in the rocketing firework in the form of "stars." The stars burn up, sparkling as they fall to the ground. Or maybe in your home fireworks there are no "stars," just one chunk of metal dust filled with colorant that lets off a nice sparkle. As for that whistling sound -- yes, that is caused by our friend carbon dioxide. Who knew?

The more serious concerns, however, are things like the potassium perchlorate used as an oxidant in fireworks. Perchlorate, which messes with our thyroid glands, falls to the ground as the firework performs, and may fall into water, where it was recently studied by the folks at the National Risk Management Research Laboratory. Perchlorate in the lakes they studied rose precipitously after fireworks displays, but dissipated to background levels in about 80 days. Still, they are worried about aquatic life and need to look further into this, they concluded. I concluded, do not drink the water after the fireworks display.

The Disney Company has developed aerial fireworks that use compressed air in place of gunpowder, but those aren't for backyard celebrations. Of course, the NRMRL wasn't studying backyard fireworks, either.

Ask Umbra continues below

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The other small trouble with fireworks is the additives used to get nice colors. They're usually heavy metals (lead and barium are two examples) with various human health risks attached. They are powdered and fall from the sky as the firework explodes. A few of the additives, such as copper salts, cause fireworks to produce small amounts of dioxins. And, of course, even if the dust weren't all heavy metal, dust itself is difficult for those with asthma.

For your own family celebration, please consider that fireworks studies are usually done on large aerial displays, not backyard shindigs, so the bad should be taken with a grain of saltpeter. I'll get in trouble for this, but I'm not sure your family needs to ban fireworks. It's your decision, of course. If you do decide that the potential heavy-metal pollution is worth the family fight, my best suggestion for you is to bring a noise-sensitive dog or baby into the family, have everyone fall in love with it, and then plead no fireworks on its account come next year.

Independently,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (11 comments)

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fireworks

Umbra,
I think you are missing the point, fireworks release tons of particulate matter (PM 10), and though you mention the main elements of them, the smoke is the problem. The air quality can be ridiculously bad, with thick clouds enveloping children and adults. If you measure the air quality on that night we would exceed all standards, and allowing that is not good. It's too bad the stands are manned by groups like the girl scouts and churches, as you would have to battle both the american way and the non-profits to make a difference. RS

by argalite at 12:04 PM on 02 Jul 2007

fireworks

RS,
Actually, I think you might be missing the point. While fireworks undoubtedly have a negative effect on air quality (PM as well as heavy metals, POPs, etc.), these effects are very localized and brief. The air quality immediately next to a campfire is also pretty horrendous, but they're not considered a serious health threat because most of us don't camp out every night. I'm pretty sure if you even attempted to do "battle" with the Girl Scouts or the American Way in the name of environmentalism, you would do us all more harm than good. Don't sweat the small stuff!

by corymcd at 3:19 PM on 02 Jul 2007
[ Parent ]

Fireworks Aid Global Cooling

According to the most likely answer to what causes global heating -- the cosmic ray hypothesis of Henrik Svensmark, where low level cloud cover, formed by the impact of cosmic rays, regulates sunlight falling on the planet and hence temperature -- the smoggy fumes of fireworks will reduce the impact of heating by putting more particulate matter into the low level atmosphere.

Therefore, let "the bombs burst into air"!

by jabailo at 11:04 AM on 03 Jul 2007

fireworks-global warming

In Nelson DeMille's latest novel he refers to the following as an old joke: What's the solution to global warming? Nuclear winter.....

by bailsout at 12:49 PM on 03 Jul 2007

Fireworks

My problem isn't with the huge public fireworks. As has already been stated, don't sweat the small stuff - it's only once a year. My problem is with the backyard home fireworks. Although they may be legal in some states, they are stupid everywhere. Unless you are a licensed fireworks technician, you are just asking for property damage, injuries or even death. It happens every year. At that point, who cares about a a little particulate matter?

by ginnyjc at 7:46 PM on 03 Jul 2007

fireworks

It seems pretty clear that fireworks are bad for the environment---heavy metals, air pollution, water pollution for at least 80 days, noise pollution, scarred kids and pets, etc.
Constructing the fireworks is a dangerous sweatshop industry in China, where many people are super-exploited and injured.
Finally (for now), I was injured by fireworks when I was a kid and have been blind in one eye since then. Lots of pain and suffering, medical appointments and surgery, visual difficulty, and a very sad mom.
Here are some related links (on fireworks and the environment):
http://www.earthisland.org/eijournal/new_articles.cfm?art ...
http://www.earthisland.org/eijournal/sum2000/wr_sum2000fi ...
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/9200/toxic_firewo ...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/43230/fireworks_ ...
http://www.all-creatures.org/oadl/about-camp.html
http://www.world-wire.com/news/0407050001.html

http://www.physorg.com/news99672229.html

Eco-Eating: Eating as if the Earth Matters at www.brook.com/veg

by CyberBrook at 8:34 AM on 04 Jul 2007

Fireworks in the grand scheme of things

As bad as fireworks themselves may be, how do their explosion-related emissions stack up against the emissions caused when all the spectators drive cars from home to the fireworks display?

by jantos at 9:40 PM on 05 Jul 2007

Fireworks and pets

It seems pretty clear that fireworks are bad for the environment---heavy metals, air pollution, water pollution for at least 80 days, noise pollution, scarred kids and pets, etc.

I absolutely agree with you. They are bad for the environment and for pets. My dog is afraid of them very much. I love dogs very much and recently I've found an interesting thing: pet franchise. From one side you care about animals, and from the other - you earn money. That's great! If you are an animal lover, it is worth of trying.

by Fabulous2007 at 8:10 AM on 15 Sep 2007

Alternative FUN

If there are no fireworks,
whatever are you going to do???.....?

Charades
Capture the flag
Find the constellations
Memory time tell stories about first job,first love,first bicycle,best vacation,proudest moment
Liars dice, poker, go fish, hearts,
Squirt gun war or water balloons
Penny toss
Look at family photos, slides, videos
Listen to family musicians
Poem writing contest with red licorice prizes
Cherry seed spitting contest
Invite the neighbors
Dance
Read the Declaration of Independence
Declare how you will lower your carbon footprint
Eat pie, made of local fruit

LOVE THE 4TH OF JULY!!

by Zephaniah at 11:07 AM on 01 Jul 2008

Compressed Air Launch?

For the large displays it would be great if Disney would release the patent on their compressed air launch system and if municipalities would require compressed air or a similar launch system.

This would at least eliminate part of the problem, and make some of us sweat the small stuff less...

by spiders at 10:12 AM on 03 Jul 2008

"main concern -- as it should be"?

Our "main concern," as environmentalists, is the well-being of the Earth's community of living creatures. Global warming is currently but the most important of our sub-main concerns; and it is so very important, partly, because it deeply intersects with another, the biodiversity crisis.

Some of the links given by CyberBrook, e.g. all-creatures.org, express this concern, regarding fireworks, very nicely.

Thanks, Fabulous 2007, for your kind message.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 4:32 PM on 03 Jul 2008

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