In some countries like US., Germany, and others it’s not New Year’s Eve without a night sky full of fireworks. But how bad are these colorful explosions for our environment? And what are the health effects?
Starting a new year can be costly. Germans, for instance, send €100 to 200 million ($240 million) up in smoke every New Year’s Eve, as spectacular fireworks displays light up the sky above villages and cities across the country.
But the annual tradition also has an environmental cost, with each rocket releasing a toxic mix of chemicals and particulates into the air.
What’s actually hidden inside fireworks?
“Each rocket consists of about 75 percent potassium nitrate, 15 percent charcoal and 10 percent sulfur,” said Günter Klein-Sommer, a chemist and pyrotechnist, speaking at a recent lecture on the chemistry of pyrotechnics at the University of Cologne.
Depending on the desired effects, other components might be added, including copper, barium or strontium compounds. These end up coloring the fireworks blue, green or red.
All of these chemicals require high amounts of energy to be produced, only to fizzle out in a few short seconds, critics have argued.
Toxic trace
In 2016, fireworks produced 5,000 tons of particulate matter (PM10 — particles measuring less than 10 microns in diameter) in Germany alone, according to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). This amount corresponds to about 17 percent of the annual vehicle particulate emissions.
Most of this fine toxic dust is produced in the span of one or two hours during New Year’s Eve fireworks displays, especially in large built-up areas such as cities. The tiny dust particles are invisible to the naked eye, and the UBA has warned these small particles are particularly harmful to health.
The fireworks industry, for its part, continues to maintain that it’s not as bad as it seems. Fritz Keller, an environmental consultant with the German Association of the Pyrotechnic Industry (VPI), said particulate pollution from the traffic sector can’t be lumped together with the pollution caused by fireworks.
Most of the particulate matter released from diesel vehicles, for example, consists of sooty carcinogenic particles, which have a negative effect on soil and plants — and human health.
“In fireworks, on the contrary, particulate matter consists mainly of salts. That’s something completely different in terms of chemistry,” Keller said.
For instance, when black powder burns, potassium carbonate remains — basically a white salt. In the past, people used potassium carbonate to fertilize and protect crops from frost damage.
Nevertheless, health experts have advised against directly inhaling the smoke left after a fireworks display, with research often showing that it can cause respiratory problems and aggravate asthma.
Short-term burden
The amount of time particulate matter remains in the air after a fireworks display depends on several factors. Strong wind, for instance, helps disperse the pollution rather quickly. The UBA highlighted the difference a windy day can make in a comparison between New Year’s celebrations in 2009 and 2013. Rain can also have an effect.