UPDATE: Yes, sadly, I had to look. There’s the fireworks and global warming question being bandied about related to the 2012 Olympics. See below the read more line. – Anthony
From the Journal of Obvious Science department: Smoke from fireworks is harmful to health. In related news, excessive smoke inhalation can cause death, and fireworks can explode in your hand, (warning, graphic) causing loss of fingers . All the more reason to have “strict controls on fireworks imports so that those with the potentially most dangerous chemical composition can be avoided”. Up next month in the Journal of Obvious Science; pot smoke at concerts causes mass mellow.
The metallic particles in the smoke emitted by fireworks pose a health risk, particularly to people who suffer from asthma. This is the conclusion of a study led by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), published this week in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
“The toxicological research has shown that many of the metallic particles in the smoke from fireworks are bio-reactive and can affect human health”, Teresa Moreno, a researcher from the IDAEA (CSIC) and lead author of a study that has been published this week in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, tells SINC.
The different colours and effects produced in these displays are achieved by adding metals to the gunpowder. When a pyrotechnic display takes place it releases a lot of smoke, liberating minute metallic particles (of a few microns in size, or even less), which are small enough to be inhaled deeply into the lungs.
“This poses a risk to health, and the effects are probably more acute in people with a background of asthma or cardiovascular problems”, Moreno explains. “The effects in healthy people are still unknown, but common sense tells us it cannot be good to inhale the high levels of metallic particles in this smoke, even if this only happens a few times a year”.
The study focused on the San Juan fiestas (the night of 23 June through to 24 June, 2008) in the Spanish city of Girona. The researchers analysed the levels of more than 30 chemical elements and compounds in May and June in order to confirm that the levels of lead, copper, strontium, potassium and magnesium skyrocketed after the fireworks were launched.
The team found the results were similar in other towns too. During the Mascletà (18 March), for example, in the Las Fallas fiestas in Valencia, levels of these elements rose once again, as well as others such as aluminium, titanium, barium and antimony, and also concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2).
Other studies have confirmed that the smoke from fireworks increases the presence of metallic particles in the skies over L’Alcora and Borriana (Castellón), Barcelona and even London (United Kingdom) during the Guy Fawkes’ Night celebrations.
“People who live in cities already inhale significant amounts of contaminant particles stemming from traffic emissions, chimneys and cigarettes, and the dense smoke caused by fireworks only worsens this situation”, points out Moreno.
Possible solutions
The researcher compares the problem with that of tobacco. “The less you expose yourself to the smoke, the fewer negative effects it will have on your health, and so the best solution is to avoid inhaling it”.
According to the scientists, in the absence of a ban on fireworks, spectators should stay well back in a place not affected by the smoke and pay attention to the wind direction. They also recommend that fireworks displays should be sited in a place that ensures the plume of smoke will blow away from densely populated areas.
An added problem is the chemical mixtures in the different kinds of fireworks, since some contain extremely toxic metals such as lead. “There should be strict controls on fireworks imports so that those with the potentially most dangerous chemical composition can be avoided”, concludes Moreno.
References: Teresa Moreno, Xavier Querol, Andrés Alastuey, Fulvio Amato, Jorge Pey, Marco Pandolfi, Nino Kuenzli, Laura Bouso, Marcela Rivera y Wes Gibbons. “Effect of fireworks events on urban background trace metal aerosol concentrations: Is the cocktail worth the show?” Journal of Hazardous Materials 183 (1-3): 945-949, 15 de noviembre de 2010. Doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.07.082.
UPDATE: Yes, it gets worse. From this Ask.com question:
It stems from this story:
Olypmic sized stupidity, I’d say.
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These ‘researchers’ should take a junket to Shenyang, China during Spring Festival. Ten glorious days of non stop fireworks from 3 million families. Noise pollution, smoke pollution, buildings burn down, thousands injured yet the Chinese keep doing it year after year and that is just 1 city.
LOL try banning fireworks there.
I have loved playing with fireworks for more years than I can remember, lied about my age to buy them when 14. I have hurt myself once or twice but that didn’t stop me I learnt that they were the best toys in the world but would kill you if you didn’t keep your wits about you.
Unfortunately many don’t grow up with them so when they get them as adults they don’t know what to do, even the instructions are in health and safetyeze and are hard to understand.
As for the smoke it’s very hard to organise the weather (as Jones et al have found out) so you do get the smoke blowing all over the crowds, it would really be a problem only if you spent your life following firework displays like scientists measuring how harmful fireworks are to health?
I suggest banning audiences from Olympic stadiums, and any other sporting events for that matter. Being in close quarters to crowds of people that might be sick can’t possibly be good for your health.
Just a minute! as always there is a valid point in all of this if you can sift out the environmental rubbish.
Many years ago I and a group of colleagues used to set display fireworks off as a business, but we decided to give up, because it became obvious to us there were breathing health hazards involved.
Ric Werme says:
November 16, 2010 at 7:27 pm
One of the better “America’s Funniest Home Video’s” was a dog running around with a lit Roman candle trying to find someone to “throw the stick.” I hope the stupid humans learned a bit about fireworks safety.
I saw that one, it was a dachshund, and everytime the candle fired the recoil made the dog skid sideways.
And here he is.
“The effects in healthy people are still unknown, but common sense tells us it cannot be good to inhale the high levels of metallic particles in this smoke, even if this only happens a few times a year”
————–
Whenever I hear or see the phrase “common sense” my idiot detector glows amber.
Apart from wondering if it’s so common why is it so rare? I tend to translate it as “my prejudices and bogus assumptions say”.
Basically the universe could not care less about common sense since it violates it on a regular basis.
Sadly, New Zealand now has an over-supply of childrens’ playgrounds that remain in pristine condition. Not because a rash of good behaviour has broken out, but because the OSH brigade have rendered them so safe that little kids find them so boring that they avoid them. Kids of all ages need at least the impression of risk in their pursuits.
What a dull, sanitized simulation of life is being forced upon the world by Jeremias pretending to be scientists.
Robert says:
November 17, 2010 at 3:11 am
And here he is.
——–
thanks 🙂 laughed till I cried:-)
after this stupidity something was needed.
Australia banned fireworks for all but commercial displays many years ago, amazing how the public still manage to obtain some regardless 🙂
I attended a few of the big displays and never heard or saw of anyone having asthmas issues, hearing issues yes!
When I was young, around Bonfire night we would nick the crow scarers from the local farmers’ fields. They were *much* more powerful than the bangers you got in the shops (which we were too young to buy anyway). I don’t recall them damaging our health all that much, but they used to make a big mess of the plastic plant pots people had in their front gardens. Happy days.
“”””” Ric Werme says:
November 16, 2010 at 7:27 pm
David A. Evans says:
November 16, 2010 at 5:20 pm
> Does anyone remember “hold in the hand” Roman candles?
One of the better “America’s Funniest Home Video’s” was a dog running around with a lit Roman candle trying to find someone to “throw the stick.” I hope the stupid humans learned a bit about fireworks safety. “””””
Rick,
No doubt that video was inspired by the ice fishing tale; where these chaps had driven their truck out to the middle of the lake, and then moved away a bit, and tossed a stick of dynamite to blow a hole in the ice. Obediently their dog ran and got the stick; whereupon they chased it yelling and screaming. So the dog ran for safety and hid under the truck !
“”””” Norman says:
November 16, 2010 at 6:44 pm
I’ve had asthma for thirty-odd years. I find the sulfurous smoke from fireworks and from my black powder rifle to be soothing to my lungs and sinuses.. These people really need to get out more. And run with a better crowd. “””””
Say Norman, that reminds me that when I was a young kid; and this would be early 1940s, one of the treatments I had for asthma(for an actual wheezing attack) involved taking a powder; that I can only describe as a yellowish grey, and putting it (level teaspoon) on a tin lid, and then igniting it with a match. It would slow burn, and put out a strong smelling smoke, and I would sit with my face down in that smoke, with a damp towel over my head forming a hood.
I have no idea what that powder was; but if I had to guess from the appearance I would say it was a mixture of yellow sulphur and charcoal. Presumably there was no saltpetre in it; it simply smoldered like a cigarette ash. And as for sulphurous fumes; that would fit the general odor; and I have never found volcanic sulphurous fumes to be obnoxious assuming they were quite dilute. So long as it doean’t get too rotten eggy smelling, I always found it somewhat pleasant; and maybe soothing IS the right word. I’m sure that the tin lid used, was the actual lid of the squarish can, like a tea can, that the powder came in. An adult of course supervised the dose, and the ignition.
“The metallic particles in the smoke emitted by fireworks pose a health risk”
But much less health risk than the coal power plants spewing metals including radioactive metals into the air.
If a nuclear power plant emitted as much radiation as a coal power plant, it would be shut down. Radioactive elements including uranium are naturally present in coal and spew into the air when it is burned.
Indeed, are all those hot-footed athletes, producing all that CO2 by over-exertion, going to be taxed for their increased carbon footprint? I have long lobbied for a “joggers tax” as those who run produce more CO2 than those who lie around in bed all day.
life is a death risk…all people who are alive risk death by being alive, the only real answer is to ban life in order to end death… OR let real people live and let …OK I CAN’T SAY it
News: Fighting global warming by seeding the ocean with iron is a bad idea
“UC Santa Cruz and Moss Landing Marine Lab scientists have found that toxic algae blooms are happening across the Pacific Ocean. These outbreaks were previously thought to only happen off the coast. Now it seems that some of the problem has come from seeding the ocean to promote the growth of algae. Even after twelve years, toxic plankton could be found in the sea water samples from the iron seeded areas.£
http://green.blorge.com/2010/11/fighting-global-warming-by-seeding-the-ocean-with-iron-is-a-bad-idea/
Anthony ..use Denzil Dexter as an example next time. Fast show is awesome by the way. Loads of laughs.