Ooh, ahh, uh oh: An explosive new study into the dangers of fireworks has revealed a major health hazard just in time for July 4, 2020.
Not only are the immediate risks of accidental fire and life-threatening injuries expected. Everyday fireworks, which any hobby pyro could acquire, emit “absurdly high” amounts of harmful toxins, such as lead and copper, said Dr. Terry Gordon, lead author of the study.
Exposure to these toxins could leave lasting damage to the lungs, according to previous research.
The findings are especially troubling given the recent increase in illegal fireworks activity in New York City and elsewhere, Gordon said.
“These are high levels of … toxic metals that [usually] They only happen a few days a year, “he told The Post.” But this has increased. “
In New York City, fireworks-related noise complaints reached 9,000 cases between June 1 and June 21.some retailers say they are seeing an increase in sales this year like you’ve never seen it before, perhaps resulting in the confiscation of fireworks worth thousands of dollars in recent weeks.
Gordon said the study, with 14 years of preparation, is one of the only to analyze consumer fireworks for their toxic and respiratory risks. He and his team in the NYU Langone Health Department of Environmental Medicine He published his findings this month in the journal Particle and Fiber Toxicology.
“For me, this has always been overlooked,” he said. “There has been no real study to analyze the toxicity of fireworks.”
As a result of the study, it suggests that anyone with asthma or other respiratory problems favor the wind from larger pyrotechnic displays, to prevent emissions from reaching their path. This could exacerbate existing problems.
His experiment included a dozen popular brands, such as Black Cuckoo, Color Changing Wheel, and Blue Storm. To get an idea of the possible immediate damage these toxins can cause, the researchers detonated the fireworks in a chamber containing mice and human cells, and then evaluated the health of each case study.
“The most surprising thing was that, in this very small sample of consumer fireworks … two of the 12 had high levels of lead,” he said. In particular, he rated the amount of lead found in the Black Cuckoo as “absurdly high” at 40,000 parts per million. It also contained 12,000 ppm of copper.
The blue and purple storms also released 53,000 and 44,000 ppm of copper, respectively. Other potentially harmful metals found in his analysis include bromine, zinc, barium, and cobalt.
Their camera experiment revealed that acute and high exposure to fireworks was enough to cause damage to human cells, as well as inflammation in the mice’s lungs.
“This is not [just] level of contamination, “says Gordon of the Black Cuckoo.” This is like putting it on purpose. “
He added: “I don’t know why someone would put lead in,” which, according to the guidelines of the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory, shouldn’t be there, he said. He speculates that the chemical was “cheaper” to use than an alternative ingredient.
He says there is a “very good set of … guidelines” in place. Unfortunately, he continued, they are not enforced. Gordon blames an industry that doesn’t sample his products for the heinous oversight. He calculated that about 90% or more of fireworks are being imported from China.
He believes the industry should regularly sample its fireworks inventory “to ensure that imports are safe.”
And for those pyros who just can’t stay away, Gordon is comfortable recommending flares. “I have always let my children use flares,” he said.
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