I spent hours last night watching the July 4th fireworks. I took these photos off the TV set. It again occurred to me that these displays are blatantly terrible for the environment. Why do current air pollution laws allow this to happen?
We can begin by blaming the Chinese. They accidentally invented fireworks around 200 BC. The story goes that it took them another millennium for an alchemist to mix sulfur, charcoal and potassium, and again accidentally, invent gunpowder, which became the major ingredient for fireworks and bullets.
The records are not totally clear, but enter Great Britain around 1600 when King James II's firemaster was awarded knighthood for developing modern fireworks. I again as yesterday quote John Adams on this 2July1776 letter to his wife Abigail:
Surely enough, what came from London was fireworks to commemorate the first anniversary of America's push for independence on 4July1777. This tradition has since then continued.
Italy entered the picture in the 1830's by adding metals like strontium and barium, adding color. Skyrockets came in the 20th century, and today, China is the foremost producer of fireworks.
In order to understand the environmental impacts of aerial fireworks displays you first have to appreciate the basic mechanics. The heart of a colorful firework is the “color shell,” which contains a bunch of chemical pellets arranged to emit a particular color and design. Commonly used chemicals include: potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potassium nitrate, sodiumbenzoate, sodium oxalate, ammonium perchlorate, strontium nitrate, strontium carbonate, sulfur, charcoal, copper oxide, polyvinyl chloride, iron, titanium, shellac, dextrine, phenolic resin, and aluminum.
- Firework smoke produces dangerous fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) pollution that significantly impacts air quality.
- Metals and chemicals make this smoke toxic.
- Contributes to lung inflammation, heart attacks, stroke, asthma attacks and reduced lung function.
- Air pollution spikes exceed legal requirements.
- Add noise and light pollution.
- Disturbs nesting shorebirds (nests are abandoned with eggs, etc.), seals and other animals.
- Known to have cause wildfires and perchlorate water pollution is a concern.
- Long term effects of chemical pollutants have not be adequately studied.
- Can kill or injure those involved with fireworks, and the occasional spectator.
- Appropriately enough, China is leading the way.
- Another from China.
- But here comes South Korea.
- London's fireworks this year also had drones.
- 1500 drones in Sacramento.
Last year one of my postings showed these replacement shows. However, I was sent this fabulous fireworks display, and checked into the authenticity.
For the present, I don't see drones mimicking actual fireworks. However, mere colored, but lethal, explosions will in time become obsolete, and the future of July 4th and Memorial Day light shows in the sky will more and more have lasers and drones replacing fireworks. Sound? Perhaps you can listen-in with your smart phone.
The July 4th 15 Craigside BBQ went well. A few photos:
Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to weaken after rolling over Cuba, but there remains an outside chance she could strengthen into a hurricane before landfall north of Tampa late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
While there will be some rain, Elsa should not seriously affect the Surfside collapse rescue operation near Miami.
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