POLLUTION: Sparking the Pollution Blaze – Do we Really Need Fireworks?
NOTE: This post was written by Holly McCarthy, contributor to the Conservation Report
If you think that burning a wad of $100 bills for momentary enjoyment is an act that’s reserved only for the loonies, well then, most of us are kind of crazy too, at least the ones among us who enjoy a fireworks display. Yes, I will admit that I am among those who tend to ooh and aah at the magnificent colors and amazing patterns that streak across the night sky and hold us enthralled. But then comes the sobering thought: How much are we contributing to the pollution of the earth’s atmosphere and the air we breathe by encouraging and participating in such displays?
The answer is not pleasant at all, because fireworks are among the largest polluters in terms of volume used.[*] For example, even a single firecracker is capable of causing high level of air pollution. In fact, fireworks are an absolute menace to human health and one of the biggest enemies to a green and clean earth because:
- The manufacturing process is polluting: Fireworks contain a large amount of chemicals and heavy metals, which means that the manufacturing process produces harmful effluents that tend to pollute surrounding areas and water resources.[*] Also, most fireworks are manufactured in developing countries like India and China (for reasons of cost) where labor is cheap and anti-pollution laws are not stringent enough. Besides, there’s always the tendency to use substandard materials and harmful chemicals (some of which are banned) during the production process.
- They contain harmful chemicals: The pretty colors we see showcased against the black sky are nothing but the effects of poisonous chemicals like barium, copper, cadmium, lithium, antimony, rubidium, strontium, lead and potassium nitrate. Some of them are radioactive[*] and can cause cancer while others increase the levels of perchlorate in the air and water and yet others cause respiratory problems and other chronic illnesses. High levels of perchlorate inhibit your thyroid’s ability to absorb iodide, and this leads to hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer.[*] Besides this, these chemicals have been proven to cause acid rain which is not good for the environment.
- They contribute to noise pollution: This one’s a no-brainer—just ask anyone with a baby that needs to go to sleep how annoying and infuriating the sounds of firecrackers are, and you’re bound to get a earful. The noise is deafening and at times, when adequate safety precautions are not taken and the crackers are set off too close to human ears, there’s a high probability of damaged eardrums.
- The debris litters the earth and surrounding resources: Falling debris from burned out firecrackers litter the ground and also pollute surrounding water resources. They are also liable to be swallowed by animals and fishes which then choke to death or die because they are poisoned by the chemical residue from the litter.
- The smoke pollutes the air: Firecrackers emanate a lot of smoke which not only makes breathing difficult, but also adds to the existing pollution levels that are already dangerously high. The fumes are noxious and can cause and aggravate various respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis.
- They are dangerous: If adequate precautions are not taken, they can cause fires that destroy buildings and forests and also cause deaths and injuries.
It’s an irony that fireworks, being the heavy polluters that they are, are largely used to celebrate festivals and other occasions like Independence Day, because if we persist in encouraging this trend, the day is not far off when we’re going to be fighting a losing battle of another kind—the struggle to save our planet from global warming and pollution.
Footnotes:
[*]“Fireworks are one of the most unusual sources of pollution in atmosphere; although transient, these pollution episodes are responsible for high concentrations of particles (especially metals and organic compounds) and gases.”
[*]See: “U.S. government scientists say Fourth of July fireworks displays often held over lakes and other bodies of water can pollute the water with perchlorate“
[*]For example, barium “is used to produce brilliant green colors in fireworks displays, despite being poisonous and radioactive.”
[*]See: “Low Levels Of Perchlorate Exposure Are Safe For Pregnant Women, Study Indicates”: However, “in higher amounts, perchlorate decreases the entry of iodine into the thyroid gland, [and] it can disrupt how the thyroid functions because iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones.”
On the Net:
- Environmentally Friendly Fireworks And Other Pyrotechnics
- Longest String of Firecrackers causes pollution concern
- 10 reasons to shun dirty, deadly firecrackers
- Green Chemistry
Information about the Author:
This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of organic coupons to make “living green and buying organic products easier for consumers everywhere.” She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com
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Photo source for attribution. The author or licensor of this image does not endorse my work or me and their image is protected under an attribution license.
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