Are fireworks bad for the ozone?

1. 90

   aDayInMyLife1posted 11 years ago

   Are fireworks bad for the ozone?
   
   As I was surrounded by strangers, all gazing upward watching the fireworks over the bay, I thought about how many firework displays were going on across the country. Next I began to wonder... How bad are these fireworks for the ozone or the planet? Our independence means nothing if we kill the planet. Just a thought.

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2. 78

   junksellerposted 11 years ago

   One of the primary ways we have damaged the Ozone layer is from emitting Chlorine compounds that move into the upper atmosphere. Some fireworks do use the Chlorine compound Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), which is a pretty nasty substance, but that doesn't necessarily mean it destroys ozone, moves into the upper atmosphere, or is in enough quantities to be noticeable. It is probably possible, but I don't know that anyone has studied it closely enough to have any idea one way or the other.
   
   Aside from the Ozone Layer, the issue of pollution from fireworks is worth looking into. Exploding toxic substances into fine particle aerosol clouds a few hundred feet above our heads is the absolute worse thing you would want to do with toxic substances. Along with nasty stuff like HCB, fireworks can include all sorts of heavy metals as well as things like arsenic and barium.

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3. 82

   Attikosposted 11 years ago

   I don't think there are enough of them to matter to the ozone layer, but I do worry one of them will ignite all the gas put out by the ecomaniacs and incinerate the world.

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4. 75

   Jorge Cruz99posted 6 years ago

   Fireworks are one of the many expensive and environmentally harmful "luxuries" of humans. For few minutes of brief joy, we contaminate the atmosphere, panic wild animal species, and occasionally hurt ourselves. Every year dozens die and get injured in firework displays.

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