Declare Your Independence from Toxic Fireworks Pollution
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Planning to take in one of those great fireworks displays on the Fourth of July? Be careful. Those fireworks may leave you and your family with more than a patriotic feeling. Fireworks pollution litters the ground, contaminates water supplies, and rains down chemicals and heavy metals that contribute to a wide range of serious health problems. Maybe it's time for a change in the way we celebrate our independence.Photo by Getty Images
Comments
Well done, Larry, you’re still doing it with the item on fireworks. It would be an additional benefit if you were to add the damage firework displays do to the well-being of animals. The deep sound of the explosions often does irreparable damage to their sensitive hearing systems, and even if that does not happen, they do become very frightened and confused, even if they are in familiar surroundings. Imagine what it does to all those creatures who live in the wild or without homes!
Unfortunately this article seems to be helping to spread ignorance about fireworks and chemistry in general rather than asserting facts. Many of the substances mentioned are expressly forbidden in fireworks and would have no use in them anyway. Some of the other substances used are misrepresented, such as Barium Sulfate, Barium Nitrate, and Barium Chlorate. Pure elemental Barium is NOT used in fireworks, nor is it radioactive. The list of inaccuracies goes on and on.
I do respect the environment, but also have a deep love for chemistry. It saddens me to see fear of chemistry spread by journalists who do not consult field experts before penning their stories. I’m not suggesting that everyone should be an expert in chemistry, but If the author does not know the difference between an element, a compound, and a mixture, then he should consult a chemist or a textbook. Please consider revising this article by removing the statements that are blatantly false. Only after the facts are straight will learned readers actually read this article instead of dismissing it as uneducated hype.