Rapidly approaching the end of the year means we will see plenty of fireworks in the last moments of December. But have you ever wondered what these products are made of, how they affect the atmosphere, and do fireworks cause bad air quality? Let’s get some answers.
Table of Contents
- What is in fireworks? Air pollution chemicals
- Do fireworks pollute the air?
- Does firework cause air pollution and damage health?
What is in fireworks? Air pollution chemicals
Fireworks are made of various chemicals packed into an aerial shell along with the explosives. The precise contents of products vary, which affects the colors, sizes, and even loudness of each firework. But let’s take a closer look at the main ingredients. Black powder consists of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate and is needed for the firework to fly up and blow up. Stars are smaller, concentrated explosives that create different shapes. And finally, colorants influence the colors of the fireworks. For example, lithium and strontium produce red, copper and chlorine give blue, sodium and sodium chloride make yellow, and barium and chlorine deliver green.
Do fireworks pollute the air?
So are fireworks bad for the air? Yes, as they are filled with several well-known air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and Ultrafine particles (UFPs), and during each explosion, these chemicals are spread in the air we breathe. Various studies done after major fireworks shows (4th of July in the US, lantern festival in China, festival of light in India) have revealed the true extent of the problem. The concentrations of those dangerous chemicals can be several times higher right after a fireworks show than during a typical, firework-free day. But that’s not the only problem! Fireworks explode high in the sky, which also means that they are susceptible to blows of wind. As a result, fireworks pollutants are able to travel with atmospheric wind currents even for miles or stay in the air for even 5 hours after the end of the show, depending on the weather conditions.
Does firework cause air pollution and damage health?
We know that air quality after fireworks worsens, but how can it affect your health? The main symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath, airway inflammation, headaches, and sore or swollen throat. More serious conditions involve pneumonia, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.
Read also: how does pollution affect skin.