Fireworks are pretty, and this time of year wouldn't be the same without them. But all those explosions in the sky don't strike me as being particularly great for the planet, so I decided to look into the impact of fireworks on wildlife and the environment (please watch out for baked hedgehogs!), and what we can do to reduce their impact.
Fireworks contain gunpowder as well as various accellerants that contain heavy metals and other nasties. This makes them not very green because they can hang around in the sky for a long time after the crowds have gone 'ooh' and 'aah' -- up to 2 weeks, according to some estimates.
Chemicals found in rockets include Barium, copper, cadmium, lithium, antimony, rubidium, strontium, lead and potassium nitrate. All of these are bad for our respiratory systems, and can even pollute lakes and rivers.
However, according to Treehugger, there's a new generation of fireworks on its way being developed by Disney. The greener sort will be based on compressed air, which is safer, quieter, and much less polluting than black powder.
In the meantime, why not enjoy the more traditional Guy Fawkes' festivities of toasting treats on the bonfire and eating toffee apples? Your pets will certainly thank you for the lack of loud bangs.
Personally, I think one night of bright lights is a tiny drop in the ocean compared with the pollution caused by industry and travel, but if you do feel strongly about this issue and want to 'ban the bang', there's an online petition here to ban fireworks altogether.
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