Pollution on Bonfire Night

Published on 05-11-2008 by Dr Paul Beckett

Great fun though it is for many people it must be remembered that fireworks cause pollution. The bright colours and sound effects that we see when a firework is released produces a huge variety of chemicals. Fireworks emit light, heat and sound energy along with carbon dioxide and other gases and residues. With gunpowder as the main component, sulphur compounds are emitted along with small amounts of particulates, metal oxides and organic compounds (including minute amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans). Consequently, at this time of year and particularly on 5th November, it can be assumed that pollution levels will be higher than average.