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Whatever the reason, fireworks displays have become a big business. Here's just one example: New York-based Grucci (the owners of which call themselves "The First Family of Fireworks") made over $2 million on Fourth of July shows in 1999. Grucci's New Year's Washington Monument extravaganza involved 140 tons of sand, 135 miles of wire, 26 technicians and enough lumber to build an average house.
The amount of fireworks set off in the US each year approaches 100 million pounds. Seventy-five percent of it is exploded over the Independence Day holiday. Not surprisingly, the shooting of thousands of tons of explosives into the air has several effects on the natural environment.
First is the noise. Explosions are traumatic interruptions in the lives of animals, who find them frightening rather than entertaining. For example, fireworks displays interrupt the lives of terns nesting on the sandy beaches of the northeastern US. Early July is a critical time for the terns, since it's when the adults are incubating eggs on the nests. If the adult leaves the nest for only a minute or two, predators arrive in search of defenseless prey. Frequently, fireworks celebrations frighten the birds so much that they abandon their nests entirely; the birds' mortality rate soars during the Fourth of July week.
In the hills around Tucson, Arizona, people celebrating Independence Day expect two kinds of fiery celebrations. First come the fireworks that light up the night sky. Then, as the rockets fall to the desert below, they start brush fires, further amusing onlookers who give little thought to the damage being caused. The environmental hazards of fireworks go beyond noise and the risk of fire. Recent studies reveal that, after fireworks displays, the atmosphere is saturated with increased amounts of fine particles, including higher-than-expected concentrations of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide.
And no wonder -- there's a whole lot of chemicals in fireworks. In addition to blackpowder (which contains cancer-causing sulfur-coal compounds) that shoots the rockets into the sky and blasts them into those pretty shapes we love so much, fireworks also house toxic metals that produce some of those lovely colors. Copper compounds produce deep blues, potassium and rubidium compounds make glowing purples, strontium and lithium both create bright reds, boric acid heats up to a gorgeous green, while aluminum, magnesium and titanium flash off blazing white sparks. And oh yeah, some of the finest greens are produced by radioactive barium.
The weather can also have an effect. In the US, fireworks are most often exploded during the hot, muggy first week of July. Temperature inversions and still air can result in sharply increased pollution -- exactly what smog-ridden cities, and their citizens' lungs don't need.
Safety First
In case you didn't know, it is patently illegal to shoot off fireworks in the city of Charlotte (unless you get permission to stage a big display, such as the yearly WBT Skyshow). Nonetheless, you know and I know that some of you -- make that a lot of you -- will be setting off fireworks anyway. With South Carolina's massive supply of pyrotechnics so nearby, the temptation is just too strong. So, a few tips. If you don't work in a fireworks factory and don't plan to blow up a fireworks store, you have only two things to worry about -- not hurting yourself or someone else while setting off at-home pyrotechnics, and safely enjoying the public display. It's astonishing how many accidents are caused by people ignoring the few simple safety precautions for igniting fireworks at home.
Following these rules could prevent many injuries:
Read the directions. Make sure you understand what each firework is supposed to do.
Don't allow children to play with fireworks unsupervised. This cardinal rule is the one most often violated. The result is a surprising number of maimed and even blinded children. Perhaps adult memories of Fourths past make them less careful than they should be. Personally, I remember Roman Candle shootouts in the front yard on the night of the Fourth, my friends and I firing at each others' butts with the hot, flaming missiles. Were any of us ever burned? Well, yes. So be more careful than our parents were.
Ignite fireworks outdoors, safely away from houses and flammable materials, such as dry leaves or polyester clothing.
