Millions of tonnes of fireworks are set off each year to mark Independence Day in the US, causing air pollution to spike. Should you be worried? Each

Huge firework displays will mark 4 July in the US, but the nation's air quality will suffer

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2024-07-04 13:30:12

Millions of tonnes of fireworks are set off each year to mark Independence Day in the US, causing air pollution to spike. Should you be worried?

Each year, Americans set off nearly 300 million lbs (136,000 tonnes) of fireworks – nearly one pound for every person living in America. In 2022, that figure jumped to more than 460 million pounds (209,000 tonnes) of fireworks. That's a lot of explosions and sparkles – but also a lot of smoke and waste, which may not only harm the planet, but also potentially the lungs of people nearby too.

Fireworks have been around for thousands of years, with many historians believing the first firecrackers originated in China in the 2nd Century BC. But we're now beginning to understand the scale of the impact they have on wildlife, the environment and human health.

While most attention about the dangers of fireworks focuses on injuries caused by burns and explosions, there are other far-reaching effects of these celebratory spectacles, especially when set off in large displays like the 4 July celebrations and New Year.