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According to the Washington Post a recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reviewed the short term impact of 4th of July fireworks on air pollution across the US:
Every July 4, the 14,000-plus dazzling fireworks displays across the nation have a toxic effect on our atmosphere. A new NOAA study shows they temporarily increase particulate pollution by an average of 42 percent.
The first of its kind study, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, analyzed concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at 315 U.S. air quality monitoring stations between 1999 and 2013.
The original press release from the NOAA links to the report itself.
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NOAA Study on 4th of July Fireworks and Spikes in Air Pollution
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A Smith & Wesson beats four aces.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2015, @03:19PM
remove many from the gene pool
It really isn't, yet many states heavily regulate fireworks. I'm sure drunk driving on July 4th takes many more lives.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2015, @03:29PM
five people per year were killed directly by fireworks ... no reported fire deaths
Five direct deaths and presumably no indirect deaths per year due to fireworks.
http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fire-causes/fireworks [nfpa.org]
[~150 people per year] lost their lives in crashes involving drivers with a BAC of .08 or more
So, there is around 30x the number of drunk driving deaths on the fourth of July compared to fireworks.
http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/july4th [trafficsafetymarketing.gov]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Tramii on Wednesday July 01 2015, @04:08PM
It really isn't, yet many states heavily regulate fireworks.
Which is pretty ironic, when you think about it. The 4th is supposed to be a celebration of freedom, yet many do not have the freedom to actually celebrate it any more.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Wednesday July 01 2015, @05:30PM
Freedom to use high explosives? Just don't tell ISIS about this...please.
When life isn't going right, go left.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by frojack on Wednesday July 01 2015, @05:36PM
Your freedom stops well short of my roof.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2015, @06:35PM
Your freedom to drink alcohol is preserved at the cost of 30x more deaths on the same day.
You have a point though. Maybe aerial fireworks should be legally restricted to a certain area.
(Score: 2) by Tramii on Wednesday July 01 2015, @07:10PM
So basically, we cannot allow people to have freedoms that might possibly be used to harm others, right?
Sounds like a quick way to strip away all freedoms to me.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday July 01 2015, @07:28PM
That does seem to be the way things work in the socialist nanny state environment that most young voters prefer.
We sadly have slipped under the control of the least capable yet most demanding government teat suckers in history.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2015, @05:03PM
Well, in all fairness that might point to the success of the regulations. You'd need a before/after snapshot to make any strong claim.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2015, @05:36PM
Drunk driving is also regulated.