No matter what else you do every summer, most of us attend some sort of celebration on July 4th. We all celebrate in different ways, but you’ll almost always see one thing: fireworks. They bring a lot of joy for many people, but have their downsides as well.

Fireworks have been around for a long time. They were first invented over 1,000 years ago in China, when an alchemist mixed together potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal to create the world’s very first gunpowder. When poured into hollowed out bamboo sticks (later into paper tubes) and lit on fire, they exploded, forming the foundation for modern fireworks. However, these early fireworks were nothing more than explosions of light, missing the intricate patterns that we’re accustomed to witnessing today. In fact, though there have been fireworks during every single Fourth of July celebration in the U.S., the very first ones were simply bursts of orange light. Modern fireworks were not invented until the 1830s, when Italian chemists added various metal salts to the mix. When the metals react to the heat, the resulting blast turns a certain color. For example, if lithium salts were added, the resulting blaze would be pink.

Aerial fireworks, which are the ones that light up the sky at major events, consist of pellets known as stars. These are nothing more than tiny packages of black gunpowder and certain metals. They are carefully arranged in the outer layer, called the shell, which determines the shape of the explosion seen in the sky.

So, fireworks are basically just explosions of chemicals in the sky. When the chemicals in fireworks combust with oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen — all of which are some of the largest contributors to climate change — get released into the air. In addition, the metal salts that are used for color do not simply burn and then cease to exist. Rather, they become aerosols which pollute not only the air, but also the water and soil. In other words, poisonous gases are being released into the atmosphere every time fireworks are set off. These metals, when inhaled by humans and animals or absorbed by plants, can cause minor problems, like asthma attacks, or major diseases, like various cancers. 

The Air Quality Index ranges from 0-500, with 500 indicating the worst air quality. Any value greater than 301 comes with a recommendation for everyone to stay indoors. However, in Delhi’s 2019 Diwali celebrations, which feature an incredibly large amount of firework displays, the index value hit its limit at 500. Though the value was likely even greater, there did not exist a way to measure at such a high level. So, the following year, the city banned fireworks from being used in Diwali celebrations. However, few followed the guidelines, and the index value still reached 481. This is a problem seen throughout the world. A 2015 study found that after Independence Day celebrations in the U.S., fireworks had caused a 42% increase in air pollutants. Another study, conducted in Albany, New York, found that the amount of pollutants in the air was eight times greater after a fireworks show. In Germany, a federal study revealed that fireworks release over 2,000 tons of particulate matter into the atmosphere annually. If that weren’t enough, these effects can be found far outside of the general vicinity of the fireworks show. In mild weather, over a period of two days, pollutants travel 62 miles downwind, and will continue to drift. If the speed of the winds are greater, this process accelerates.

That’s not all, though. When fireworks are left unused for a prolonged period of time, the chemicals create hazardous waste on the ground. People often forget to dispose of the plastic and cardboard waste that fireworks leave behind, creating even more pollution. For example, over 10,000 tons of waste from fireworks was seen after New Year’s Eve in Germany. 

There is not yet a way to truly create an eco-friendly firework. All fireworks require some chemical to be blown up, which adds pollutants to the air. However, some are better for the environment than others. Some of these include fireworks with sulfur-free propellants, smokeless charges, and/or less hazardous metals used for color. There are also ways to celebrate without the use of fireworks. In South Korea, fireworks are rarely used, rather, drone shows are often held instead. Elsewhere, such as in Landshut, Germany, laser shows are world-renowned.

Fireworks have long been a symbol of festivity, but it may be time to realize that they aren’t worth celebrating.

 

written by Srisha Nannapaneni

edited by Saanvi Gutta and Sarasi Rout

 

References:

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Nguyen, K. (2021, December 6). Are fireworks bad for the environment? the environmental impact of Fireworks. Brightly. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://brightly.eco/fireworks-environmental-impact/