The environmental effects are also a concern as evidenced by numerous publications that describe the release and contamination of air and waterways with perchlorates and other toxicants. suffer physical and burn injuries, due to fireworks, which include the loss of fingers, limbs, eyesight, and sometimes, life. Each year, approximately 10,000 to 25,000 people (predominantly male teenagers) in the U.S. To date, the greatest health concern regarding fireworks has been the potential for injury to life and limb due to the explosive force of fireworks. is more than 10-fold greater than that used for large celebratory fireworks (19.1 million pounds) displayed by pyrotechnic professionals (i.e., 1.3G explosives) and, thus, are a significant concern for adverse health effects. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, the amount of consumer fireworks (258.4 million pounds) intended for use by the general public (i.e., 1.4G explosives) and purchased in the U.S. In addition to these large public fireworks displays, small, and often illegal, fireworks are often ignited locally within residential neighborhoods. Amusement parks are the largest consumers of fireworks in the U.S., whereas the single largest fireworks show is the July 4th display sponsored by Macy’s. pyrotechnics traditionally were reserved for special occasions such as July 4th and Chinese New Year, pyrotechnic displays are now prevalent at rock concerts, opening ceremonies of the Olympics, amusement parks, and sports venues. Often, the only limit on the size and number of the displays is cost.
Throughout the year, numerous types of celebratory fireworks or pyrotechnic displays are set off across the world. This information will lead to the manufacture of safer fireworks. These findings demonstrate that pyrotechnic display particles can produce adverse effects in mammalian cells and lungs, thus suggesting that further research is needed to expand our understanding of the contribution of metal content to the adverse health effects of fireworks particles.
This sample also produced the greatest inflammatory response (i.e., increased neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) in mice. Interestingly, the PM 10 sample for the fireworks type producing the greatest in vitro ROS response in BEAS-2B cells contained ~ 40,000 and ~ 12,000 ppm of lead and copper, respectively. Trace metal analyses of the PM 10 samples showed significant differences in metal content among fireworks type. The in vitro ROS activity was correlated with lung inflammation produced in groups of mice treated by oropharyngeal aspiration with 0, 50, or 100 μg fireworks PM 10/mouse. Significant increases in ROS, in both cell types, were dependent upon the type of firework but not particle size. At doses that did not produce cytotoxicity in an LDH assay, in vitro reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was measured in bronchial epithelial airway (BEAS-2B) and human pulmonary microvascular endothelial (HPMEC-ST1.6R) cell lines treated with size-fractionated particles from the emissions of fireworks. A subset of 2 particle types were tested in vivo in mice. Size-selective emissions from 10 different fireworks displays were collected during particle generation in a dynamic, stainless steel chamber and tested for toxicity in cells. This study was designed to test the hypotheses that pyrotechnic firework displays introduce significant amounts of toxic metals into the atmosphere and are hazardous to human health.
Particle matter (PM) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates across the world.