All Posts Tagged With: "Ecofriendly"

Friday’s LA Times served up another mournful report this time that fireworks can be a health threat polluting the air and water with what its describes as “a severe source of pollution.”

The article cites studies by European scientists and the Los Angeles AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (AQMD) warning those with asthma or other breating impediments to stay upwind or inside around fireworks displays. It especially warned that green colored fireworks burn barium to make that color and “barium is highly poisonous.” Strontium (red) and cooper (blue) ” can also be toxic. It soberly advises that perchlorate which provide oxygen for fireworks displays is a water pollutant. In addition the article cites particulant concentrations well above federal safe air limits.

Los Alamos chemist have experimented with nitrocellulose based pyrotechnics and created a company to make less polluting fireworks. When it burns it produces water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide and 90% less smoke and no perchlorate. The company, called DMD Systems chemist says they can produce “nicer” colors with less metals. The whole thing sounds like an examination in freshmen qualitative chemical analysis.

The American Pyrotechnical Association expects its members will be producing spectacular, and cleaner fireworks display in the foreseeable future.