The Prettiest Pollutants
by Rose Fox, New York City 
on 07. 4.06
For many Americans, the 4th of July wouldn't be complete without fireworks. Macy's puts on a huge spectacle in New York City—they proudly proclaim their use of "55 times more fireworks than the average show in the United States"—and in any big city or small town you can find someone who will proudly tell you that their firework display is among the best in the nation. Unfortunately for those of us who love the pretty lights in the sky, fireworks are often propelled by gunpowder, and the accelerants and heavy metals used for coloration can leave traces in the air and water for days or even weeks after the party is over. The effects are worsened by muggy summer weather and its accompanying poor air quality.
All is not lost, however: pyrotechnics experts at the Walt Disney Company announced in 2004 that they had devised a fireworks firing mechanism based on compressed air, which is safer, quieter, and much less polluting than black powder. (At the time, plans were afoot to donate the patents to a non-profit company so that they could be licensed around the world; no further information seems to be available on whether this actually happened.) It's a little late for this year, but if there are fireworks displays in your town, remind the pyrotechnicians and local officials about the Clean Air Act and the laws in your state, and suggest a shift to compressed air technology and investigation into non-heavy-metal colorants for 2007. In the meantime, asthmatics and others with respiratory concerns should wear masks to protect from the worst of the smoke and particulate matter. ::APA Directory of State Fireworks Laws and ::Walt Disney Company press release via ::Earthtalk on About.com
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Thank you, Debbie Downer.
You know, for something that happens so rarely, I think we can handle the pollution. Perhaps we should worry about bigger things?
You know, I live in a passive solar house. My previous one had active solar hot water and space heating.
My gosh, this Post is the kind that drives "normal" folks crazy when they hear the complaints like this. This is why the ears get "selective hearing" and tune out.
"Every little thing counts", isn't that the slogan of the environmentalist? I like the look of fireworks myself, but i dont like polution or justifying polutants for the sake of our culture. If there is a better solution out there i think it is good to know about and to push for it.
Here is some more Debbie Downer: This weekend after Canada day I came back to my house from another location to find exploded fireworks shells all over my yard and a robin (im guessing it got shot out of the sky or stunned then drowned) face down in my pool. (they set the fireworks off across the river from my house)
Hey "Ace" and "Skip". What are you 'normal folks' talking about? The article was simply educational, and positively constructive.
"I think we can handle the pollution." How bout we have Macy's do their show over your house this year, Ace. It only happens once a year, you can handle it.
Thanx for the good informative article Treehugger.
Fortunately, most big fireworks displays use compressed air rather than gunpowder for the propellent.
in order to address a problem - you have to know all the parts of the problem . . .
the article was informative . . .
continuing in that vein -
the shuttle was launched , what was released and in what quantities at all levels of the atmosphere
This is the type of article that gives environmentalists a bad name and cause people to disregard most everything that they say. This is about the dummest thing you could do especially going after something that is considered as american as apple pie and baseball. What's next a post about how all americans should avoiding farting because of the environmental impact?
At least according to wikipedia, only red fireworks use any heavy metals (at least for coloring). I'd be willing to bet an entire fireworks show uses less heavy metals than my camera's Li battery.
I don't think this article really presents any evidence of how bad for the environment firework displays actually are. I am skeptical that it amounts to anything significant. I admit I don't know, but this article seems to be making a lot of assumptions.
What on earth is so bad about knowing that fireworks pollute? No where in the post does it demand the end of fireworks, nor is anyone chastized for liking them! It's just one more piece of information--and one that might be especially useful for people whose breathing problems are already elevated on muggy summer days.
And, NFB, even if something is as American as apple pie and baseball, does that make it untouchable? Knowledge is power, genius.
Thanks, Rose!
Unfortunately there is this impression of making noise for the Independence for some two hundred and thirty two years ago. Now is the time to make a cleaner voice for the Independence of our world free from pollutants www.buygogreenonline.com maybe they could use lighting like they use at premiers and the circus.