ireworks have been an American tradition since . But they’re not exactly harmless fun. Trips to emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries have risen every year since 2007, according to the (CPSC).
Fireworks can affect long-term health too, since they release contaminants that can affect air quality and, as a result, human health. Here’s what to know about the health risks of fireworks—and what you can do to protect yourself. Fireworks lead to a , which is the same type of air pollution caused by wildfire smoke.
Plus, the brilliant colors splashed across the night sky are created by an array of , says Terry Gordon, a professor in the department of environmental medicine at NYU Langone Health. “There’s lots of different metals they use for the colors that you shouldn't be breathing,” he says. Researchers have long known that fine particles are linked to short- and long-term health concerns like , , , and even .
Little research, however, has focused on risks specifically related to fireworks, which means scientists can only hypothesize about how they might affect health. “Just by pure logic, because of the high concentrations of these particles and the metals, they should have adverse health effects,” Gordon says. “But we’re not keeping track of that.
” Anecdotally, he adds, you’ve probably heard of someone coughing or developing a sore throat after a fireworks display. But more research is needed to determine how much of a role factors like pro.
