Fireworks: Cheap Thrills with Toxic Consequences

History

Fireworks invented in
China in the 7th
century

Used for variety of

reasons such as
aesthetic, cultural, or
religious purposes

What theyre
made of:
Main component of
fireworks is gunpowder
which gives rise to solid
reaction products such as
potassium carbonate,
potassium sulfate,
unreacted sulfur, and
potassium sulfide.
The reaction products from
firework effects consist of
metal oxides and chlorides.
In 2011, an estimated
17,800 fires due to
fireworks.

Specific Compounds include

Orange (Cadium):
Carcinogenic to humans;
can cause vomiting;
diarrhea (short term);
damage to kidneys,
lungs, and bones (long
term).
Accumulates in plants,
fish, and other animals.

Rose/Red
(Strontium):
Stable and radioactive
forms are harmful in high
doses.
Stable Sr could impair
bone growth (children).
Radioactive Sr could
cause damage to bone
marrow and anaemia.

Purple (Rubidium):
Highly

reactive to water;
less than significant effect
on water however.
Moderately toxic.
Could cause skin
irritation and replace
calcium in bones.

Grey/White
(Aluminium):
Harmful in high doses.
Brain and lungs damage.
Studies suggest link to
Alzheimer's disease.

Turquoise (Dioxins):
Toxic byproduct of Cu(s)
Compound could cause
skin lesions, excess body
hair, metabolism

Perchlorates (NH4ClO4)
Primarily used for the propellant of fireworks
Proven to have adverse effects on human growth,
metabolism, and thyroid function.
Following a firework display, perchlorate
concentration can be 24-1028x the mean baseline
value!
In 2006, the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection determined that
perchlorate contamination in two of its nine water
supply systems was due to firework displays
Only California and Massachusetts have
perchlorate standards; can be a problem for the
safety of drinking water in other states

 As we know, one of the places that fireworks

are displayed is over large bodies of water.
This means that the particulates from the
fireworks that dont burn up in the sky fall to
the water below. The fish in these water ingest
these particulates such as barium.

Green (Barium)

When animals ingest the barium it moves up

through the natural food chain and this can
also be dangerous.

The metallic compound that makes a firework

green is barium.
Barium is element number 56 and is an alkaline
earth metal.
Barium is a silvery white colored metal that can
have various effects when it bonds with other

Some of the main effects of the barium from

green fireworks is that is can cause
gastrointestinal problems, muscle weakness,
and it can even lead to contamination of the
water.

When humans come in contact with this

barium, it has different effects that it has on
the animals and water. The barium can cause
humans to develop health problems such a
vomiting, trouble with breathing, and similar
to animals, it can also cause muscle
weakness.
In higher levels of barium exposure that can
result from frequent contact with fireworks,
humans and animals both can experience

Recording & Mitigation

Keeping Record:

Require permits or registration of all

public and private firework displays
so that environmental regulators can
keep track of the number of shows,
where they occur, and what types of
fireworks are used.

Mitigation:
Where firework permits are required,
regulators can use permit conditions to
mitigate potential adverse impacts to the
environment and human health.
Environmentally sensitive areas,
nesting birds, spawning/roosting
seasons
Regulations to
facilitate
Debris
Water quality
Perchlorate-free

clean-up and
restoration

Monitoring & Restoration and CleanUp

Restoration & Clean-up
Monitoring
1. Should identify baseline for
wildlife abundance and
behavior in the event vicinity
several hours prior to the
fireworks display
2. identify any adverse impacts
to wildlife during and for
several hours after the display.
3. Follow-up monitoring at
regular intervals for several
weeks following the event.

A fireworks permit should require the

removal of any fallen debris.

Sources
http://legal-planet.org/2013
/07/03/bombs-bursting-in-air
-environmental-regulation-of
-fireworks
/
http://
www.mnn.com/earth-matters/t
ranslating-uncle-sam/storie
s/are-fireworks-bad-for-the
-environment
www.eurekalert.org
www.mmn.com
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v
=b6KgR5gDG9A