Are fireworks bad for the environment?

Fireworks can unleash a shower of toxins into soil and water, and scientists are only beginning to figure out what that means for human health.

By Russell McLendonTue, Jun 30 2009 at 9:30 AM EST 60 Comments

The rockets' red glare during a fireworks show can fill onlookers with patriotism and awe. Unfortunately, it can also fill them with particulates and aluminum.

Fireworks get their flamboyance from a variety of chemicals, many of which are toxic to humans. From the gunpowder that fuels their flight to the metallic compounds that color their explosions, fireworks often contain carcinogenic or hormone-disrupting substances that can seep into soil and water, not to mention the lung-clogging smoke they release and plastic debris they scatter.

But fireworks shows are woven into the fabric of the United States — they were popular here even before the country won its independence — and it's not like they happen every day. Is an occasional peppering of perchlorates really a big deal compared with all the industrial pollution U.S. waterways have been dealt over the years?

Maybe not, but it's still not entirely clear how fireworks affect environmental or human health. While they haven't been linked to any widespread outbreaks of disease, it's not always easy to pin down why someone developed hypothyroidism, anemia or cancer.

What we do know is that, although they're fleeting and infrequent, fireworks shows spray out a toxic concoction that rains down quietly into lakes, rivers and bays throughout the country. Many of the chemicals in fireworks are also persistent in the environment, meaning they stubbornly sit there instead of breaking down. That's how mercury from coal emissions winds up in fish, and it's how DDT thinned bald eagles' eggshells in the '70s. There's scant evidence that fireworks are having similar effects, but the possibility has been enough to raise concern in many communities.

Here's a look at what's in fireworks, how they might affect people, and what kinds of alternatives exist:

Perchlorates and particulates

For fireworks and other pyrotechnics to blow up, they need to blow up something — usually a blend of charcoal and sulfur fuel. They also need an ingredient that can inject oxygen to speed up the explosion, historically relying on potassium nitrate. These three chemicals are mixed together into a sooty substance known as gunpowder.

When a spark hits gunpowder, the potassium nitrate feeds oxygen to the fire, helping it quickly burn the charcoal-sulfur fuel. This produces volumes of hot, rapidly expanding solids and gases that can be used to fire a bullet, explode an artillery shell or launch a Roman candle.

The original blends of black powder can be a bit too unstable and messy for some uses, though, so the potassium nitrate is often replaced by perchlorates, a family of chemicals all featuring a central chlorine atom bonded by four oxygen atoms. Two types in particular — potassium perchlorate and ammonium perchlorate — have become the go-to oxidizers of the pyrotechnics industry.

Perchlorates may have introduced a new problem, though: In high enough doses, they limit the human thyroid gland's ability to take iodine from the bloodstream, potentially resulting in hypothyroidism. The thyroid needs iodine to make hormones that control a variety of body functions, and people running too low on these hormones can develop a wide range of disorders. Children, infants and especially fetuses suffer the worst from hypothyroidism, since thyroid hormones are crucial for normal growth. Perchlorates have also been shown to cause thyroid cancer in rats and mice, but scientists believe humans are less vulnerable to this effect.

Low doses of perchlorates don't seem to hurt healthy adults — volunteers who took 35 milligrams for 14 days or 3 milligrams for six months showed no thyroid-related problems, and studies of workers exposed to similar amounts for years also failed to uncover any major side effects. Plus, perchlorate advocates often point out that it should theoretically all be incinerated in the sky before any can fall down to contaminate the ground.

But a 2007 study of an Oklahoma lake following fireworks displays overhead found that perchlorate levels spiked more than 1,000 times above the baseline level for 14 hours after a show. While the maximum concentration detected was 44.2 micrograms — less than 1 milligram — per liter, the study was still the most concrete evidence yet that fireworks release perchlorates into waterways.

Another study by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection found perchlorate levels up to 62 micrograms per liter at eight groundwater-monitoring wells on the Dartmouth campus, near where fireworks are regularly fired.

EPA spokesman Skip Anderson cautions that these weren't health-effects studies, and points out that more data are needed to determine how great a risk perchlorates pose in surface water around the country. Still, he says, their results "suggest that some perchlorate in fireworks is not combusted and therefore can wind up in the environment."

The smoke from fireworks' burned charcoal and sulfur fuel also contains particulate matter that can get lodged in people's lungs, an immediate danger for those with asthma or chemical sensitivities. Prolonged exposure to similar airborne particles from diesel exhaust has also been shown to cause lung cancer. Air-quality monitors reportedly spike for about three hours after a fireworks show.

One positive of both perchlorates and particulates is that they most likely don't pose a long-term threat. Particulates fade away after a few hours, and perchlorates dissipate days or weeks after being released. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about some other chemicals that help light up the sky.

Metallic compounds

In addition to gunpowder, fireworks are packed with heavy metals and other toxins that produce their sparkling shower of colors. Like perchlorates, the exact effect of fireworks' heavy-metal fallout is still mainly a mystery, but scientists do know that the metals themselves can wreak havoc in the human body.

• Strontium (red): This soft, silvery-yellow metal turns red when it burns, is extremely reactive with both air and water, and can be radioactive. Some strontium compounds dissolve in water, and others move deep into soil and groundwater; radioactive strontium has a half-life of 29 years. While low levels of stable and radioactive strontium haven't been shown to affect human health, they both can be dangerous at high doses. Radioactive strontium can damage bone marrow, cause anemia and prevent blood from clotting correctly, and lab studies have shown it can lead to birth defects in animals. Stable strontium is mainly a threat to children because it can impair their bone growth.

• Aluminum (white): Since aluminum is the most abundant metal in Earth's crust — and one of humanity's most widely used — avoiding exposure is almost impossible. Virtually all food, water, air and soil contain some amount of aluminum — the average adult eats about 7 to 9 milligrams of the silvery-white metal every day in food. It's generally safe at these levels, but it can affect the brain and lungs at higher concentrations. People and animals exposed to large amounts of aluminum have performed poorly on mental and physical tests, and some studies suggest aluminum exposure may lead to Alzheimer's disease, although that connection has yet to be proven.

• Copper (blue): Fireworks' blue hues are produced by copper compounds. These aren't very toxic on their own, but the copper jump-starts the formation of dioxins when perchlorates in the fireworks burn. Dioxins are vicious chemicals that don't occur naturally and aren't intentionally produced anywhere; they only exist as unwelcome byproducts of certain chemical reactions, one of which happens in blue fireworks. The most noted health effect of dioxin exposure is chloracne, a severe skin disease with acne-like lesions mostly on the face and upper body. Dioxin doesn't stop there, though — the World Health Organization has identified it as a human carcinogen, and it's also been shown to disrupt hormone production and glucose metabolism.

• Barium (green): Fish and other aquatic organisms can accumulate barium, which means it can move up the food chain. The silvery-white metal naturally bonds with other elements to form a variety of compounds that all have different effects — none are known to be carcinogenic, but they can cause gastrointestinal problems and muscular weakness when exposure exceeds EPA drinking water standards. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, breathing trouble, changes in blood pressure, numbness around the face, general muscle weakness and cramps. High levels of barium exposure can lead to changes in heart rhythm, paralysis or death.

• Rubidium (purple): This soft, silvery metal is one of the most abundant elements on Earth. It burns purple, melts to a liquid at 104 degrees Fahrenheit and is highly reactive with water, capable of igniting fires even far below the freezing point. It hasn't been reported to cause any major environmental damage, but it can cause skin irritation since it's so reactive with moisture, and it's moderately toxic when ingested, reportedly able to replace calcium in bones (PDF).

• Cadmium (various): Used to produce a wide range of fireworks colors, this mineral is also a known human carcinogen. Breathing high levels of cadmium can seriously damage the lungs, and consuming it can fluster the stomach, often resulting in vomiting and diarrhea. Long-term exposure can lead to kidney disease, lung damage and fragile bones. Plants, fish and other animals take up cadmium from the environment, meaning that any released into waterways from a fireworks show can be passed up the food chain.

Alternative fireworks

The most eco-friendly alternative to fireworks is to forgo explosions altogether — go to a parade, go fishing, grill out, camp out or help out.

If you must see the sky festively illuminated, you might want to try a laser light show, which create dazzling displays of color without launching dangerous chemicals into the air. They may consume lots of energy, but so does the rampant production of single-use fireworks. Here's an example of lasers in lieu of fireworks on the Fourth of July, from Stone Mountain, Ga., in 2008:

In 2004, Disney began using compressed air to launch fireworks at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., reducing at least the issues of smoky particulates in the air and perchlorates in the water. Researchers have also been fine-tuning alternative propellants that use nitrogen-rich materials in place of perchlorates, but those are still likely several years away from hitting the market.

More information

To read more about the environmental impacts of fireworks, or for other eco-tips and information on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and all summer long, check out these related articles from MNN:

UPDATE: Several readers have commented that toxins in fireworks are insignificant, or are combusted before they can contaminate the ground. Both are valid arguments — this article doesn't claim that fireworks are definitively dangerous to environmental health; it simply highlights the concern that known toxins are unnaturally entering the environment and scientists don't know exactly what ecological effects they have. The potential dangers alone have been enough to spur Disneyland and some communities to explore other options, and researchers are pursuing alternatives to perchlorates due to the possibility of health effects. As for combustion, the article cites two studies that found perchlorates can still make it into lakes, either from shells being overstuffed or from duds that fail to combust. Only a small amount was found, but only two lakes were studied. Again, this article aims simply to point out the potential dangers since scientific understanding is still limited.

The explanations of the chemicals that give fireworks their colors have also drawn some fire from commenters. The environmental impact of these hasn't been studied well enough for anyone to know their ecological effects; rather than speculating how they might affect ecological health, the article summarizes the toxicological profiles of these chemicals, primarily using information from the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The article makes clear at several points that it's merely presenting the potential dangers inherent to the materials in question. While common chemicals like table salt that contain otherwise dangerous components are known to be safe, the effects of fireworks' toxins in the environment are much less understood.

Thanks to everyone who's commenting, and please feel free to include links to any data or studies that conflict with information presented here. We scrutinized this article to ensure its accuracy, but we will certainly correct any errors or clarify any unclear statements.

Happy Fourth of July (and Canada Day)!

MNN homepage photo: chanc/Flickr

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industrial

Posted By Anonymous - Wed, Aug 25 2010 at 1:39 AM EST

Local Line LLC is specialised in providing Services and supplies to oil and gas sectors. Supplies different types of chemicals used in oil sectors in the Middle East and around the world.

Potassium Chloride

Fireworks found in nature

Posted By Lindsay Oberst - Fri, Jul 09 2010 at 10:10 AM EST

I recently did some research on this matter and came up with the conclusion that we aren't exactly sure how harmful fireworks are to the environment or people. It is important, however, to at least consider that chemicals are used in fireworks and that other options need to be researched/considered. The point is that most people don't consider these types of matters.

Here is an article I posted about fireworks found in nature. I think it's worth looking at. .... More

Missing information

Posted By Old prof - Sun, Jul 04 2010 at 1:00 PM EST

1. "Just One Night of Fun"--are you not paying attention? Pro fireworks go off not only at Independence Day celebrations, but Labor Day, Memorial Day, every time a pro baseball team wins a home game, every time a pro baseballer hits a home run, at pro wrestling shows, monster truck rallies, etc. etc. Amateur shows go on for around two weeks before and after independence day, on all the other occasions noted above, and also Easter and Christmas in South Carolina.

2. Anyone who.... More

2?

Posted By Hmm - Mon, Aug 16 2010 at 6:34 PM EST

I agree with most of what you're saying and yes littering the beaches with lots of fireworks debris is bad for that environment but I really think that saying that it is 'just as bad' as the BP oil spill is absolutely crazy. The ramifications of the oil spill on the future of the ocean is massive. There are so many species being affected by this and I really just don't think it's in any way comparable.

How About The Noise?

Posted By Barry DeCarli - Fri, Jul 02 2010 at 9:37 AM EST

While the the pollution of our water is important, I am also bothered and assaulted by the explosive bombardment of noise. Where we are, in a summer community in Goshen, MA some folks think we all enjoy their destruction of peace & quiet. And, unfortunately, it's not only on the 4th. Besides, these private disturbances are also illegal, I'm told.

Just one night of fun?

Posted By em-j staples - Tue, Jun 29 2010 at 9:13 PM EST

I think the effects are serious resulting from fireworks, but come on, it's an American tradition. It's the way of life and celebrating that for ONE mere evening is a necessity for tradition.

Wow.

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 08 2010 at 10:41 AM EST

In short, it's hard to believe that there are folks who are willing to look the other way simply because of human-created tradition. What about all the other equally-important species that live here who do not have a voice in environmentalism (or non)? Why should humans continue to ruin the habitability of the Earth simply out of enjoyment sake? It's very disheartening that we (as a whole) let greed and selfishness lead the way for our future, or lack of if we continue on the track we're.... More

NewsBusters: Green Movement Calls Fireworks 'Eco-Hazards,' Sues

Posted By StewartIII - Tue, Jun 29 2010 at 9:04 PM EST

Green Movement Calls Fireworks 'Eco-Hazards,' Sues to Ban July 4th Display in California
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/alana-goodman/2010/06/29/green-movement-cal...

NewsBusters: Green Movement Calls Fireworks 'Eco-Hazards,' Sues

Posted By StewartIII - Tue, Jun 29 2010 at 9:02 PM EST

Green Movement Calls Fireworks 'Eco-Hazards,' Sues to Ban July 4th Display in California
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/alana-goodman/2010/06/29/green-movement-cal...

How I plan to celebrate the 4th

Posted By sick-of-liberal-lies - Tue, Jun 29 2010 at 4:50 PM EST

I think that I will select a few big used tires from my enormous stack and burn them sequentially on the 4th - it should make a nice black smoke that can be seen fro miles. Saw them burning in Iraq and Afghanistan when I was there...I think they will display nicely here too. Perhaps when the liberals stop their fanatic "hate-everything-about-America" agenda...I won't have to burn tires anymore.

Amazing.

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 08 2010 at 10:46 AM EST

It's amazing to see these types of comments. Whether or not it's a true claim that tire-burning will really happen here, it's irritating to see the close-mindedness of the individuals who feel it necessary to take a stance against improving our existence here. That's what all the protest is all about - it's about stopping the destructive nature of the human species so that Mother Earth may be able to sustain life for all living beings, not just for humans. It's possible to exist in harmony.... More

Wouldn't it be nice

Posted By Anonymous - Tue, Jun 29 2010 at 4:21 PM EST

The only dangers of Fireworks is that environmentalist nut jobs like the one that wrote the article aren't attached to them when launched. Enough Said.

The Problem I See Daily with Fireworks...

Posted By Hanna - Tue, Apr 13 2010 at 11:48 AM EST

Enter your comments here Is the amazing amount of PLASTIC debris, partly melted, that washes ashore with the high tide after every fireworks display let alone the chunks of cardboard/paper mortars that float in that supposingly "desinegrate" when exploded. Every day when we walk along the shores in Mission Bay, San Diego with our dog, you can expect to find firework debris at the high mark year round even if there hasn't been a display set off in months! This is why FIREWORKS ARE BAD FOR THE.... More

i got sick 2 years in a row from the fire works

Posted By angela harmon - Fri, Feb 05 2010 at 2:36 PM EST

i went to the fire works sat on the sand semi close to where they where shot off and i got sick the same way 2 years. the first year i thought food poisoning but the 2nd. year the same way no way it was the fire works by the time i drove home got in the yard i could not hold my head up i had to be helped in and i threw up was very sick and disy until the next day this happened 2 years in a row i had forgotten the first year until it happened the 2nd year so no more close fire works for me and.... More

Well Thought out Article

Posted By Digital_Punk - Sun, Jan 03 2010 at 1:39 AM EST

I really enjoyed the video. What a call to wake up about fireworks! Thanks you! I started to do some searching and came across http://www.backcountryattitude.com/toxic_fireworks.html which was also helpful in my research. I'm gonna tell everyone I know!

what about air pollution

Posted By Harry - Thu, Dec 31 2009 at 11:24 PM EST

i was searching for how harmful are fireworks for the enviornment becauase i was not sure if they are. this article tells me that they are and the various comments as usual are for and against it ... what i am a bit confused about is that i didn't see anyone (including the article itself) mention about simple air-pollution. the emission of CO2 in the air. isn't that in itself a reason not to burn them? no matter how small, air pollution is air pollution, right?

Small potatoes

Posted By Dick - Tue, Jun 29 2010 at 4:21 PM EST

Compared to, say, even a small commercial jet flight, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from a fireworks display is pretty small. Considering the thousands who delight in such events, it's a minor consideration. Minimizing air- and water-borne pollutants is by far the bigger issue.

BIG PICTURE!

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 08 2010 at 10:51 AM EST

It's any and all polluting factors that have to be considered. The more that can be removed from the waste/pollution stream, the closer we can be to having a sustainable existence with all the other life-forms that we share the Earth with. Just because one polluting activity appears to be minimal compared to another, it doesn't make it ok to perform these acts - it's merely a self-justified distortion of reality. Please wake up and realize that we aren't the "owners" of this planet and it's.... More

Nitrogen-Fueled Fireworks are Green, But Pricey

Posted By james - Tue, Aug 25 2009 at 5:58 AM EST

Want to wow your neighbors this Saturday with some bright and cheery Fourth of July trvia? Tell them about the dangers of perchlorate, the molecule that helps fireworks burn longer. According to experts at debit cards Systems who study explosive materials, the molecules are not only harmful to the environment, but to humans as well–-and repeated exposure poses health risks.

The good news is that scientists

What about the sound & light pollution?

Posted By Rachel - Wed, Aug 12 2009 at 12:17 PM EST

One thing I always think about on the 4th is how much bangs and flashes of light going on across the country would disturb wildlife. I know a lightning storm is a somewhat similar thing, but...?

Good position

Posted By Anonymous - Tue, Jul 07 2009 at 7:51 PM EST

I don't think your health argument is too strong because you don't mention how people ingest these chemicals. Also, you say "high doses," but how high is "high?" Show danger levels compared to actual levels supposedly ingested by people as a result of firework debris.

Great information

Posted By Outdoor-type - Sun, Jul 05 2009 at 10:59 PM EST

I was watching our local fireworks display last evening and, as I watched large clouds of smoke move downwind, couldn't help but questions the environmental affect of this long held and loved practice.
Your article was just what I needed and the post commentary was also entertaining as well as educational. The bottom line appears to be that we just don't know the extent of the effects. If you consider that thousands of communities are using this practice across the US in one evening, not.... More

Fireworks

Posted By Anonymous - Sun, Jul 05 2009 at 8:19 PM EST

I needed a good laugh. You're frickin' idiot, Russell. Now go drink some Barium.

Ignorance.

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 08 2010 at 10:55 AM EST

It's clear that you have no respect for others and that you are part of the growing problem of destruction to the very place we call home. With all due respect to you, it does no good to make comments like this. Do you even care about the state of our home, Earth? Please just take some time to reflect on what our existence is here - check out this eye-opening excerpt from a speech given by Carl Sagan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot#Reflections_by_Sagan.... More

Um...

Posted By Nicole - Sun, Jul 05 2009 at 4:03 AM EST

I'm hypothyroid (hashimotos- my immune system decided to destroy my thyroid), and, call me stupid, but I don't think fireworks caused it. I think, if I was to go searching for why I'm hypothyroid, I would start with my grandmother. Who was also hypothyroid. I also have asthma. Guess what? My father, grandfather, and 4 aunts and uncles also have asthma. Funny how genetics works. Not to say environment and genetics do not have a decent amount of interplay- it's just overly simplistic to.... More

fireworks warehouse worker

Posted By notfa - Sun, Jul 05 2009 at 12:28 PM EST

For generations my maternal side of the family has ran a fireworks warehouse. My mom worked there as a teen and continues to run stands on the 4th. She just had to have her thyroid removed because it was cancerous. My great-grandma died of thyroid cancer. I have worked the warehouse in the June July months every year from age 10-20years old. I am now 26 and have an enlarged thyroid. Haven't had the ultrasound yet but it may be cancerous as well. I spent years breathing in gunpowder and metals..... More

warehouse worker

Posted By notfa - Sun, Jul 05 2009 at 12:41 PM EST

I will clarify that my personal health care proffessionals and my own research is convincing of the harm of gunpowder ingestion. I do not think the occassional 4th celebration will be detrimental only chronic exposure. I wish I could find info on other fireworks warehouse workers health. Women seem more prone to the thyroid problems caused by toxins. Also I have anemia which can be a side effect of exposure but it is off and on. I believe the toxins are preventing my throid from absorbing.... More

True risk of fireworks

Posted By Anonymous - Sat, Jul 04 2009 at 11:09 PM EST

The major risk of fireworks, as any ER doc knows, is children playing with the fireworks and getting severe burns. Even if fireworks are not legal in their state, many families have purchased these items out of state and brought them home.
Lets not pretend that fireworks are safe. We all know better.

Amazing

Posted By David - Sat, Jul 04 2009 at 10:04 PM EST

Had no idea so many people who don't give a crap or even believe in climate change are reading MNN and spend their time trying to attack a writer for discussing POSSIBLE environmental damage. You guys need a hobby, for real...

Think - Chemicals cant be good for you

Posted By Anonymous - Fri, Jul 03 2009 at 5:34 PM EST

All those who are yelling at the writer, you must not have done your research. A Biochemist would know what kind of effect these chemicals have on one's body. Common sense tells us that these fireworks are all made with chemicals, and chemicals are not good for you (period).
Those laser fire works as an alternative look good but one needs to study if there is any harm from them, just in case.
Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic also causes us to breathe exhaust fumes, burning.... More

Are fireworks bad for the environment?

Posted By Shadow - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 9:34 PM EST

Several points:

1) Rubidium is never used in fireworks. And, it is not "one of the most abundent elements on earth". Rather, it's about the 23rd most abundant. Finally, it's flame color is not purple, but red. Purple (a difficult fireworks color) is produced by using a carefully balanced mixture of strontium and copper compounds.

2) Cadmium, likewise, has no use in fireworks.

3) Your mention on "radioactive" strontium is entirely spurious to a discussion of fireworks.... More

Already Shut Down!

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 6:20 PM EST

Here in Gualala Ca, The almighty CCC shut down our firworks show after our 2007 show, claiming distubance of birds 1.4 miles from the firing point in another county! their extremest leader (Birdman of Sea Ranch) built his home for 2 years as close to the island where these birds live as possible. I suppose Back Hoes, Hammers, Heavy Equipment,Nail Guns ect. didn't bother these birds? Hipocrats!

fireworks bad for the environment?

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 4:02 PM EST

I can't wait untilt he story breaks on the true effects of perchlorate on our nation. It moves 30:1 over iodine and concentrates in the breast milk. It is effecting all infants and children in Our Nation. It's in the food. Look at the Colorado River and the Imperial Valley. 0.5 ppb is recommended in water. The EPA is saying 24 ppb is ok. What about the 1,500 ppb in the tomatoes? The watermelons? The spinach? The FDA knows about the problem. When are we as a nation going to begin talking about it?.... More

Fireworks?

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 4:33 PM EST

thee have ben many studies on this subject: Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary did a 12 year study, and disneyland did a study of the lake where fireworks were detonated for 10 years EVERY NIGHT.
This Article is full of lies and speculation and NO SCIENCE

Cadmium and Rubidium? You're Nuts.

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 3:53 PM EST

Cadmium and rubidium compounds are never used in commercial fireworks.
Your "research" obviously involved participating in on-line chat groups of teenagers who "know" all about how to make big booms.

I make fireworks for a living. Cadmium and rubidium compounds are NEVER used for coloring fireworks.

Also --
Disney did NOT employ the air-lift system for the reason of "limiting particulates". They employed it to improve the visuals at ground level, that can be.... More

Environmental Science is an Oxymoron

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 2:29 PM EST

"some studies suggest aluminum exposure may lead to Alzheimer's disease, although that connection has yet to be proven"

Since when has proof ever been required by the environmentalist agenda? There's no proof that perchlorates from fireworks have caused any thyroid problems in humans, but that doesn't keep you green weenies from crying about it. There's no proof of man made global warming either, but that hasn't stopped you idiots from making scare mongering movies and badgering.... More

No Proof???

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 6:04 PM EST

"There's no proof of man made global warming..."
Show me proof there is not proof. Folks like you are like arguing with religious zealots; constantly arguing against and pleading lack of proof when you yourself have nothing to stand on.
Perhaps you should read scientific periodicals and/or research papers which have the proof you suggest does not exist. And, these papers are written by people who spend many many years actually studying the subject. Instead what you do is spend a.... More

Complete BS

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 1:04 PM EST

The author of this article clearly knows very little about what he is writting. Rubidium and Cadmium are NOT used in ANY fireworks compositions, PERIOD. This and much other information in this article are typical of the junk science propagated by environmentalists when they latch onto something they just FEEL isn't good for the environment regardless of what the FACTS are. Disney has done studies of the bogus perchorate claims in its lakes over which fireworks are fired EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.... More

Complete Rubbish

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 9:50 AM EST

The information presented in this "news" article is simply untrue, and is nothing more than scare-mongering by someone who is clearly biased against fireworks, and woefully or deliberately ignorant of their chemical composition.

Radioactive?!?! No. Never.

Toxic?!? Everything found under your kitchen sink, or in your garage, is "toxic".

He then goes on to compare fireworks "pollution" to mercury and DDT pollution. Disingenuous at best, and deliberately misleading at.... More

Good Point You Make...

Posted By Cheryl - Tue, Jul 06 2010 at 12:40 PM EST

"Toxic?!? Everything found under your kitchen sink, or in your garage, is 'toxic.'"
...Which is probably true for you, and brings up another good point: They don't have to be! There are alternatives that aren't. And only a fool would buy the ones which are unsafe, as only a fool would find bright explosions truly entertaining. Fireworks...boring and poisonous! Made for the cheap little masses who are impressed with cheap little things... You know who you are!!!

Fireworks

Posted By Anonymous - Thu, Jul 02 2009 at 1:55 AM EST

Not to mention the freakish levels of noise...disturbing humans and animals. How about noise pollution? Fireworks...something I could do without for the rest of my life without any adverse effects.

pm 2.5 particulate pollution, etc.

Posted By Anonymous - Wed, Jul 01 2009 at 4:33 PM EST

Many (most) fireworks come from China where contaminants in manufacturing have been often found (lead, for example). The jury is out on perc but it does not necessarily "dissipate" quickly in potable water, like ground water. PM2.5 particles are dangerous to asthmatics and persons with other lung and heart diseases, even after brief exposures. Add in the fires and the burns, and you have serious and multiple health issues.
Then there is the noise which disturbs the peace, harms hearing,.... More

dangerous chemicals

Posted By kevin - Wed, Jul 01 2009 at 2:31 PM EST

A dangerous chemical has been found in many househoulds--it is half composed of sodium a chemical that is so reactive that it spontaneousely burns when added to water and will kill you if you eat it. The second half is the toxic gas chlorine used to kill soldiers during the first world war -one lungfull is enough to cause you to drown by filling your lungs with your own secretions---what is this chemical? sodium chloride otherwise known as table salt. This is how crass this article is

But They're COMBUSTED!!

Posted By deandome - Wed, Jul 01 2009 at 2:11 PM EST

All of this anecdotal 'science' fails to take into account the fact that the chemicals are DESTROYED during the combustion process. That red strontium (which is NOT radioactive...it CAN be, but the kind used in fireworks is not) is 90%+ destroyed/depleted by the explosive/combustive process. Same with all the rest. Maybe it turns into OTHER toxic baddies during the process, but you don't delve into that.

Naturally Occuring Chemicals?

Posted By Anonymous - Wed, Jul 01 2009 at 1:34 PM EST

It's OK to use chemicals that are "natural?" Poison ivy is natural too. Would you jump into it? Mercury is natural. Would you drink it? Rotting meat is natural. Would you eat it?

Toxins in Fireworks

Posted By Bill Page - Wed, Jul 01 2009 at 7:23 AM EST

Radio active Strontium, Rubidium and Cadmium are not used in civilian pyrotechnics. This type of shoddy journalism goes a long way to convince people that know even less about pyrotechnics than the author, that pyrotechnics are a danger to our inviornment. There is not enough room here to dispute all the rediculous conclusions drawn, especially the connection between Dioxins and burning fireworks. I urge readers that think fireworks are a serious environmental issue to investigate further..... More

I was looking for that information!

Posted By Bryant Raiford - Wed, Jul 01 2009 at 5:40 AM EST

I teach science for Mad Science (www.madscience.org) and, while the science presented here is a bit shoddy, the information on which metals produce which color fireworks is very helpful.

Seriously?

Posted By Anonymous - Wed, Jul 01 2009 at 1:13 AM EST

I am very glad that the majority of people posting here are smart enough to really consider this shoddy attempt at profiting off of sensationalism and emotional argument with few even remotely supportive facts. Fireworks have been around with no ill effect for so long in this world and there are a lot more real things to worry about than a Temporary spike in perchlorate levels. If you actually read the story it denounces the effects of many times that exposure. If you make a habit of feeding.... More

FIreworks

Posted By James WOods - Tue, Jun 30 2009 at 8:30 PM EST

But Fireworks are COOL. Thats all that matter!

RT
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Are fireworks bad for the environment?

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