What kind of health problems can fireworks cause?

If you have a dog, then you probably have watched this situation on more than one occasion. If a fireworks burst suddenly next to you, you see that your dog seems to have been replaced by someone: she starts to tremble, tries to hide as far from everyone as possible, you are trying to comfort her all evening. Well, according to some experts, it turns out that your behavior is your dog trying to tell you something.

Why are fireworks harmful in many ways?

Throughout the world and for several centuries, loud, bright, colorful, joyful explosions that publish fireworks were a favorite part of all types of public celebrations.

The Chinese invented them 2,000 years ago, but in those days they used them for more utilitarian purposes, such as scaring out ghosts and nomads.

Therefore, for some, it may be a surprise when they learn that experts who study air quality, as well as many health professionals, are not good at using fireworks for different festive events. Salutes, as we already know, can clog the air, as during the explosion there is a release of highly irritating chemicals. Worse, air pollution, which is in some way related to the use of fireworks, can lead to significant health problems, can exacerbate chronic diseases. This is especially true for those people who have asthma and heart problems.

Salutes and air quality

Several researchers who study the environment have analyzed the quality of the air, after people used fireworks, in many places around the world. All these studies have shown that as a result of the explosions, many pollutants enter the air, which none of us would like to breathe.

Air fireworks are tightly packed combustible chemicals that are carefully engineered to create impressive sound and visual effects in an explosion.

Black powder (a mixture of charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate) is used to break the shell, to launch the contents of the package into the air, and then (with a synchronized fuse) an explosion occurs. As a result of the latter, "stars" appear (small spherical objects that burn very slowly during ignition) in all directions. It is the stars that create bright sparks that so please us.

How do they get sparks of different colors?

A lot of chemicals are used to create all those colors that we see when the salutes explode. For example, sodium compounds create yellow sparks, barium compounds - green, compounds of copper - brown, strontium and lithium - red shades. Other chemicals, such as lead, arsenic, manganese, aluminum, cadmium and iron, are also used to create various effects.

What can particles in the air be capable of?

In addition to the standard types of gaseous exhausts that result from the combustion of hydrocarbons (for example, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon), explosions result in the ingress of many other substances into the atmosphere. Many of them occur in the form of particles in the air, which are quite small in size. Here they can easily penetrate deep into our lungs when we breathe. Invisible particles that are floating in the air after an explosion often contain various metallic chemicals.

The results of numerous studies of air quality in areas near the explosion of fireworks showed that immediately after the salute, particles of chemical substances penetrate into the air at high speed and immediately pollute it within a radius of several kilometers. How long the air will be dirty, how much the area is affected, is directly related to local topography, especially with weather conditions, such as wind speed, humidity and precipitation. But still the quality will deteriorate for at least a few hours.

What health problems can be observed after the explosions?

It is well known that invisible particles that are floating in the air can cause problems in the operation of the respiratory system.

In patients with chronic lung disease, an increase in the level of aerosol particles is observed, and this is strongly associated with the appearance of dyspnea, impairment of pulmonary function. There is a risk of getting into the hospital, in some cases even a lethal outcome is possible. While it was not 100% proven that the deterioration of health is directly related to the use of fireworks, experts believe that harmful substances that penetrate the air after an explosion can certainly provoke these very problems.

What other problems can arise?

It has been proven that people who have asthma, polluted air exacerbates all the symptoms. In particular, ferocious seizures can occur even when you are not very close to the place where you plan to blow up the salute.

Although it has not been proven that polluted air after fireworks causes people to have heart attacks and other acute problems of the heart and blood vessels, but any reason that can trigger a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood can be dangerous for a person with heart failure. People who have poorly controlled angina, or those with heart failure, should be extremely cautious.

How to avoid health problems

The problems that were actually caused by air pollution resulting from the fireworks are pretty much the same as the problems that have arisen from any other air pollution.

The big difference is that, unlike typical pollution, the one that comes from the use of fireworks is temporary. And even better - it's planned. The temporary nature of this pre-planned event usually allows us to avoid possible problems at all.

To use common sense is the key to solving the problem. If you have asthma, then you should avoid interaction with fireworks. If you find yourself near this action, you must move away from this place as far as possible, preferably to go against the wind. If the fireworks explode in the room, then try to stay in a well-ventilated room.

If you have asthma and you just can not pass by a good firework, you should consider using a protective bandage or a conventional mask to protect the respiratory tract from chemicals. Make sure you have a rescue inhaler in your pocket.

If you are doing well with your health, then the risk seems very minimal. But, on the other hand, we really do not know what the consequences might be. Therefore, watch fireworks at a distance to minimize your chances of manifesting various diseases in the future.

On a note

Fireworks pollute the air with serious chemicals. Nevertheless, at the moment, medical problems, which, as it turned out, are caused by the impact of this pollution, seem to threaten only those people who already have health problems. If you have asthma or heart failure, you should try to stay as far away from bright flashes, it is advisable to immediately go into the room when the salutes are blown out on the street. All others should try to enjoy the beauty at a reasonable distance.