| Not to be a 4th of July grinch, but those pyrotechnics in the sky are not exactly colored green. Last month, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study found that 4th of July firework displays pollute water. And since so many firework displays across America take place on lakes and rivers, that's not optimum news.
According to the report, the problem is perchlorate pollution. Perchlorate is found in certain fertilizers, rocket fuel, and explosives. It can harm both humans and wildlife.
The study analyzed an Oklahoma lake before and after fireworks for three consecutive years. Fourteen hours after the fireworks perchlorate levels rose anywhere from 24 to 1,028 times the starting levels. The good news? They quickly decrease (20 to 80 days) after the display.
Last year SeaWorld suspended its nightly fireworks display after environmental groups claimed they were polluting the bay.
Water pollution is just for starters. Gunpowder, the main ingredient in the fireworks recipe, produces a number of heavy metals when it combusts. These include potassium carbonate, potassium sulfate, and potassium sulfide, together with unreacted sulfur, producing unhealthy particulates in the environment. And then there's waste: Some 1,000 tons of additional waste are generated annually by fireworks.
Disney pioneered a new firework technology that uses compressed air instead of chemicals to launch the fireworks.
Moral of the story? Enjoy the fireworks, but don't swallow. |
