• Question: In your opinion are fireworks good for the plannet?

    Asked by powermouse94 to Iain, Helena, Gabriel, Elaine, Cat? on 7 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Iain McLellan

      Iain McLellan answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      Hi,

      I think we all like looking at fireworks but they do give out air pollutants. On Bonfire Night there is always a spike of ‘particulate matter’ – these are really small particles (much smaller than the width of your hair) which causes air pollution problems.

      So yes whilst they’re nice to look at they cause air pollution

    • Photo: Helena Quilter

      Helena Quilter answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      They’re definitely not very good for the planet. They cause a lot of pollution – have you ever noticed the big clouds of smoke on Bonfire Night when lots of people have fireworks? Fireworks also contain different metals which give them their different colours, so the “smoke” is full of very tiny metal particles and the chemicals that are used to shoot them up into the sky.

      Saying that though, I think they are really beautiful and exciting – I love fireworks! We definitely shouldn’t have them every day but I think once every now and again isn’t too bad…

    • Photo: Cat Scott ?

      Cat Scott ? answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      As the other scientists have said, fireworks are quite bad for air pollution.

      In terms of the climate, bonfires are a bigger problem as we just burn lots of wood and allow the emissions to go straight into the air. 🙁

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