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.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 02 2015, @01:31AM
Dear NOAA, please remember this the next time you want a satellite launched into orbit on a rocket that doesn't use Hydrogen for fuel. The solids on a Delta II have 28,000 lbs. of propellant each and there can be anywhere from 3 to 9 motors per mission. Don't have the specs for Atlas V or Delta IV solids but they're likely to be much larger.