FALLOUT
            Fireworks have been part of celebrations for thousands of years. They are beautiful and awesome. They bolster our spirits and bring communities together. They are also explosives and knowing that what gets spewed into the air ends up in our water may give us pause to look at them a little differently.
            Fireworks are exploding chemicals. The powerful oxidizer that facilitates the explosions is perchlorate, a chemical found naturally in subsurface soil, especially in southwest US and in deposits in Chile, and in water sources. Perchlorate combines with other chemical elements to form salts that are soluble in water. The most common of these salts is ammonium chlorate, the oxidizer in explosives, fireworks, matches, vehicle airbags and solid rocket fuel. (www.watertechonline.com)
            In the interest of being informed, but not unnecessarily alarmed, perchlorate in drinking water supplies is unregulated. However, monitoring is part of a contaminant monitoring program. The EPA has perchlorate monitoring data from 3,865 public water supplies between 2001 and 2005. This included all public water supplies serving more than 10,000 people, which together served more than 80% of the population. Perchlorate was detected in 1.9 percent of the samples collected – in 26 systems located in 26 states and 2 territories. (www.epa.gov - search “perchlorate”)
            The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences has determined a “reference dose” that, as of January 2009, is being used by the EPA for an interim health advisory to assist officials in addressing local contamination.
            Now for the good news! Headline: Chemists develop perchlorate-less fireworks. “A new chemical formulation can be used in place of perchlorate in the manufacture of firewords, the American Chemical Society (ACS) announced in a June 23 press release.” A press release published on WaterTechOnline.com, dateline Washington, 6/22/2009.
            The release explains, “researchers have developed new formulas that replace perchlorate in fireworks with nitrogen-rich materials or nitrocellulose. In addition to reducing perchlorate use, the new materials burn cleaner, reduce smoke, and cut down on the use of heavy metals in fireworks.
            “…Most of the fireworks used in the upcoming July 1 Canada Day and July 4 Independence Day celebrations will contain perchlorate. Some of the new formulas have been used at circuses, rock concerts and other events, but none have been used yet in large outdoor pyrotechnic displays, the ACS says.”
            The new technology will probably make fireworks more expensive. But now we know what has been happening to the environment, we can be supportive of efforts to change the manufacturing process by being alert consumers.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water
Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 06/24/09 (for publication on 07/04/09 in the Journal-Standard, Freeport, Illinois).
Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org