While fireworks light up the sky with dazzling colors, their environmental and ecological costs often go unnoticed. From releasing toxic pollutants into the air and water to disturbing wildlife and leaving behind harmful debris, fireworks pose serious threats to our planet and its inhabitants. Understanding these impacts is key to making more sustainable choices for our celebrations.
About fireworks
To better understand the environmental impacts of fireworks we have to know what they are made of - they are mostly made of gunpowder, so called black powder, made from 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulphur. The gunpowder ignites inside a shell with a fuse, creating a loud, hot explosion.
To make these explosions visually appealing, mineral elements are added for color. Some colors require a single element, like strontium for red, sodium for yellow, and barium for green. Others need combinations, such as strontium and sodium for orange or strontium and copper for purple. Additional chemicals like carbon, sulphur, aluminium, and manganese act as stabilisers, oxidisers, and enhance color effects.
Environmental impact
Launching fireworks lead to many different chemicals released in the air. The combustion leads to a beautiful colourful scenery but at the same time release of various toxic pollutants to the atmosphere contributing to climate change. Some pollutants are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter.
When fireworks explode they leave behind chemical debris, including perchlorate, which contaminates soil and water. This chemical is known to stay in the environment for a long time and is easily absorbed by plants. If it enters water bodies, it also negatively affects the development of fish; Researchers from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service conducted a study at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the US to investigate the connection between fireworks and perchlorate levels. They found that perchlorate was present in the soil where fireworks were set off and where the debris settled.
Additionally, higher levels of perchlorate were detected in surface water and groundwater. Perchlorate is a chemical compound commonly used in fireworks as an oxidizer to help them launch into the air. However, in large amounts, it can interfere with how the thyroid gland works.
The impact on animals
A study using GPS trackers in three European countries—Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands—highlighted how New Year’s Eve fireworks impact Arctic migratory geese. The research showed that the geese flew away from their sleeping sites due to the fireworks and never returned.
Similarly, researchers from the University of Amsterdam’s Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics used weather radars to study how birds, particularly waterfowl, react to fireworks. The radars revealed that thousands of birds flew as high as 500 meters in response to the explosions.
Animals are much more sensitive to high-frequency noise than humans, which can lead to them abandoning their young or disrupting their feeding and breeding behaviors. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) explains that the loud, unpredictable sounds of fireworks are distressing for animals because they are out of their control. The irregularity of the noise also makes it unlikely for animals to adapt to it.
In one extreme case, hundreds of birds, mostly starlings, were found dead on the streets of Rome, Italy, after the 2021 New Year’s Eve fireworks. The International Organisation for the Protection of Animals (OIPA) suggested this was due to an especially loud display of fireworks and firecrackers.
Beyond the noise and bright lights, fireworks leave behind debris like shells and heavy metals that litter the ground. Animals might accidentally eat these harmful materials, which can lead to serious health issues.
Conscious usage of fireworks
Fireworks may be dazzling to watch, but their impact on the environment and living organisms is far from beautiful. Animals, especially those in urban or inhabited areas, are particularly vulnerable. Fireworks not only cause distress and behavioral changes in wildlife but also leave a lasting mark on the environment through the release of harmful pollutants. While they may seem like harmless entertainment, fireworks are an unnecessary luxury that comes at a significant cost to nature. This New Year’s Eve, consider fewer fireworks, enjoying them with several others or skipping them altogether to help save lives and protect our planet. Also consider where and when you launch with respect to the wildlife around you.
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