A New York Times article published Tuesday voiced concerns over air pollution by homing in on one key Fourth of July tradition: Fireworks.
Climate writer Delger Erdenesanaa wrote that air pollution concerns and fears of igniting more wildfires like the ones spilling smoke into the U.S. from Canada are driving the reluctance to feature the annual spectacle in some areas. In Salt Lake City, the show is set to be replaced by drones and lasers are replacing the pyrotechnics during Independence Day celebrations in Minneapolis.
“Fireworks cause a spike in a form of air pollution called particulate matter, the same type of pollution that is elevated from wildfire smoke,” Erdenesanaa wrote.
WASHINGTON POST BEMOANS HOW JULY 4TH ‘MOST POLLUTED DAY OF THE YEAR’ BECAUSE OF FIREWORKS
The New York Times Building in Midtown Manhattan. Delger Erdenesanaa, a climate fellow for The Times, cautioned against using fireworks in July 4 festivities. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
Their proposed (possible) solution is to find an alternative.
“Maybe there are ways not to be a party pooper, but to still have something pretty in the sky to look at, and not cause a big amount of pollution,” Seidel said, per the article.
“In the end, holiday fireworks lead to just a couple of days of particularly visible air pollution. Around the country and around the world, communities deal with less visible but still unhealthy air daily or seasonally from things like vehicle traffic, industrial pollution and wildfires.”
