As people start to wake up from their hangovers and get ready to commence the new year there is no doubt that most of us entered 2012 with a big bang, full of fireworks explosions. In London, alone, over 250,000 people watched a 10 minute fireworks display [1]. Although these colourful explosives are beautiful and entertaining, they also have the potential to pose serious danger to the environment and human health, something that most of us are not aware of. The Energy Saving Warehouse looks at the environmental effects associated with fireworks.
Chemicals and Heavy Metals in Fireworks
The basic ingredient of fireworks seem fairly simple: gunpowder and a fuse will make a loud bang, the same way a gun or a cannon would. However, the more serious concern is the cocktail of chemicals and heavy metals used to give the fascinating effects that make fireworks so popular. Depending on the effects sought, fireworks produce smoke and dust that contain various heavy metals, sulphur-coal compounds and other noxious chemicals.
Barium, for example, is used to produce brilliant green colours in fireworks displays, despite being poisonous and radioactive. Copper compounds are used to produce blue colours, even though they contain dioxine, which has been linked to cancer. Cadmium, lithium, antimony, rubidium, strontium, lead and potassium nitrate are also commonly used to produce different effects, even though they can cause a host of respiratory and other health problems [2]. The table below gives an overview of some of the toxic elements of fireworks and their associated effects [3].
Toxic Components of Fireworks
| Toxic Element | Fireworks Usage | Toxic Effect of Fallout Dust & Fumes |
| Aluminum | Brilliant whites | Contact dermatitis, bioaccumulation |
| Antimony sulfide | Glitter effects | Toxic smoke, possible carcinogen |
| Arsenic compounds | Used as colorants. | Toxic ash can cause lung cancer, skin irritation and wart formation. |
| Barium Nitrate | Glittering greens | Poisonous. Fumes can irritate respiratory tract. Possible radioactive fallout. |
| Copper compounds | Blue | Polychlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans. Can bio-accumulate. Cancer risk. |
| Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) | Use was supposed to be banned globally. | Persistent environmental toxin. Is a carcinogen, mutagen and a reproductive hazard. |
| Lead Dioxide / Nitrate / Chloride | Oxidizer | Bioaccumulation, developmental danger for kids & unborn babies, may remain airborne for days, poisonous to plants & animals |
| Lithium compounds | Blazing reds | Toxic and irritating fumes when burned |
| Mercury (Mercurous chloride) | Chlorine donor | Toxic heavy metal. Can bio-accumulate. |
| Nitric oxide | Fireworks byproduct. | Toxic by inhalation. Is a free radical |
| Nitrogen dioxide | Fireworks byproduct. | Highly toxic by inhalation. SIDS risk. |
| Ozone | Fireworks byproduct. | Greenhouse gas that attacks & irritates lungs |
| Perchlorate – Ammonium & Potassium |
Propellant / oxidizer | Can contaminate ground & surface waters, can cause thyroid problems in humans & animals |
| Potassium Nitrate | In black powder | Toxic dusts, carcinogenic sulfur-coal compounds |
| Strontium compounds | Blazing reds | Can replace calcium in body. Strontium chloride is slightly toxic. |
| Sulfur Dioxide | Gaseous byproduct of sulphur combustion | Acid rain from sulphuric acid affects water sources, vegetation & causes property damage. SIDS risk. |
Case Study
Respiratory links in London
A three week study in London recorded two major festivals celebrated with pyrotechnic events and found that they were marked by increased gas phase pollutant levels of Nitric Oxide (NOx) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2), elevated Particulate Matter (PM) mass concentrations, as well as trace metal concentrations, specifically Strontium, Magnesium, Potassium, Barium and Lead. Based on the elevated PM concentrations caused by firework activity and the increased oxidative activity of the PM source, researchers believe that exposures to firework derived PM may be related to acute respiratory outcomes [4].
Water pollution in Oklahoma Lake, United States
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a study into the effects of fireworks on water bodies and in turn the effects on human health and wildlife. Many firework displays are often held over lakes and rivers which can result in chemical pollution of the water body, in particular, pollution of perchlorate. Perchlorate is often associated with ammonium, potassium and other fertilizer usage and can contaminate ground and surface waters and cause thyroid problems in humans & animals.
By analysing water in Oklahoma Lake before and after fireworks displays in 2004, 2005 and 2006, an EPA research group identified firework displays in the area as a source of perchlorate contamination. Within 14 hours after the fireworks, perchlorate levels rose 24 to 1,028 times above background levels. Levels peaks about 24 hours after the display, and then decreased to the pre-fireworks background within 20-80 days. That means that for up to 3 months, in some cases, water quality levels will have been very toxic and well above the acceptable levels that the law prescribes [5].
Although beautiful and very popular, firework displays, nevertheless come with a number of associated negative effects that can be harmful to the environment, human health and wild-life. Fireworks alternatives can instead be used to ring in the New Year. These may include, laser light shows, indoor fireworks projectors or electronic pyrotechnics. In fact, the latter can form a canopy up to 25 feet in the air that rain down glitter, confetti, rose petals or even sweets.
If this is has got you thinking about how your every day activities affect the environment why not have a look at our tool or read more information about environmental issues in our learning portal?
Sources:
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/29/london-new-years-eve-party
[2] http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/toxicfireworks.htm
[3] http://www.backcountryattitude.com/toxic_fireworks.html
[4] Godri KJ, Green DC. “Particulate Oxidative Burden Associated with Firework Activity.” Environmental Science & Technology, October 1, 2010.
[5] http://www.physorg.com/news99672229.html
