hate to love 'em

(oswego harborfest fireworks)

there's no better way to celebrate our independence (or any other occasion for that matter) than with fireworks. they are one of my favorite things. ever. but i hate them at the same time.

here's a list of fireworks byproducts i've compiled from multiple sources, along with their effects on the environment and human health:

• sulfur dioxide: causes acid rain
  
• perchlorate contaminates water bodies: disrupts thyroid gland (EPA studied a lake in oklahoma last year and found that 14 hours after the fireworks, there was still 1000 times more than background levels of perc)
• barium (green): poisonous & radioactive
• copper (blue): contain dioxin which causes cancer
• cadmium: carcinogen, developmental & reproductive toxicant
  
• lithium: potential kidney & neurotoxicant
  
• antimony: blood & heart problems
  
• rubidium: reacts with skin moisture to cause chemical burns
  
• lead: causes brain & blood disorders
• potassium nitrate (gunpowder component): also used as fertilizer, ice cream, and toothpastes...no real adverse effects
  

to end on a good note, Walt Disney Company has developed a new method to launch fireworks. they use compressed air rather than gunpowder to set off their daily displays.