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How — and where — do fireworks diminish air quality? (barf alert)
WaPo via Seattle Times ^ | July 3, 2025 | Ian Livingston

Posted on 07/04/2025 6:36:34 AM PDT by DoodleBob

There’s one night of the year when celebrations across the United States light up the map like no other. It’s the Fourth of July — when fine particulates fill the air.

The impact fireworks can have on air quality can be quite striking and seemingly outsize, given their relatively small explosive force. And there have been stark examples in recent years of poor air quality spiking after the Fourth of July. In 2019, in Washington, D.C., for one, the smoke got so bad that many couldn’t actually see the fireworks, and crews filming the spectacle flipped back and forth to file footage.

In that case, something called an inversion — where a cap of warm air sits on top of cooler air at the ground — trapped fireworks smoke in the low levels of the atmosphere. Add in a lack of wind, and there wasn’t much to see after the first few shells. Wandering the streets of the city afterward, there was a distinctive smell. Many reported experiencing burning eyes and coughing

At times, it can seem the nation’s smoky celebration is poorly timed. Heading into the heart of summer, there can be stagnant air in much of the country.

Fireworks smoke is unhealthy to breathe, as it contains the tiny particulates associated with burning material that can travel deep into the lungs. It also contains various chemicals and metals that create the sparkles and colors.

“Short-term exposures can aggravate lung disease, causing asthma and acute bronchitis, and increasing the susceptibility to respiratory infections,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: environmentalism; nannystate
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This whining is part and parcel of environmentalism and anti-smoking crusaders.

Second-hand smoke is what economists call an externality - an indirect cost or benefit to an uninvolved third party that arises as an effect of another party's (or parties') activity.

Negative externalities are the cost of freedom. Get over it.

Go out there, celebrate our independence by grilling, lighting up a Pall Mall, and exploding fire crackers.

The Founders would approve. And statists will cry.

1 posted on 07/04/2025 6:36:34 AM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob

“The impact fireworks can have on air quality can be quite striking and seemingly outsize, given their relatively small explosive force.”

they might be on to something: the day after every 4th of July fireworks show here we have floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hail, hurricanes, and cats and dogs sleep together ... i never really realized the correlation until WaPo pointed it out ... thank you, WaPo!


2 posted on 07/04/2025 6:49:12 AM PDT by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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To: DoodleBob

Short summary: “I hate America and I don’t want anyone to have fun.”


3 posted on 07/04/2025 6:49:56 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: DoodleBob

So, I’m not an eco whinee baby but sometimes I get a little irritated with some of the hypocrisy. For instance, if one goes to Lake Tahoe(gorgeous), the residents all seem to have “Keep Tahoe Blue” sentiments on display. But, every year they have fireworks displays at various locations out in the open waters of the lake. Guess the residue is all eco friendly? LOL! Anyway, have an awesome 4th of July. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!


4 posted on 07/04/2025 6:50:25 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
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To: DoodleBob

If you wish to know what a science-illiterate writer turns out, just check out major media science articles.


5 posted on 07/04/2025 6:52:43 AM PDT by Da Coyote (H)
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To: DoodleBob

Given the chance, leftists would ruin EVERYTHING!.


6 posted on 07/04/2025 6:54:28 AM PDT by libertylover (The HBM (Has Been Media) is almost all AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

“Short summary: “I hate America and I don’t want anyone to have fun.”

That’s the truth.

All they want to do is spread their misery. They feel good living in misery because they’re so indoctrinated and brainwashed.


7 posted on 07/04/2025 7:02:22 AM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: DoodleBob

Summer BS story. We always get them from the journalisticless media. Next, killer bees (or better murder bees), alligators, and of course, a new strain of Covid.


8 posted on 07/04/2025 7:03:56 AM PDT by silent majority rising (When it is dark enough, men see the stars. Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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To: ClearCase_guy

They have no similar effect when hurled at police while being overshadowed by the burning cars and teargas.

EC


9 posted on 07/04/2025 7:04:33 AM PDT by Ex-Con777
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To: DoodleBob

Got two alerts overnight on my iPhone about “poor air quality” - due to fireworks...

I’m with George Carlin on this one:

“I believe that fireworks should be legal on the 4th of July!”

I remember running around as a kid with sparklers that everyone had - turns out the tips of those got up to 1500 degrees. Back when the 4th was a lot of fun...


10 posted on 07/04/2025 7:07:29 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolutioan?)
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To: DoodleBob

The environmentalists never complain about the smoke when their tribe are burning towns when rioting.


11 posted on 07/04/2025 7:08:47 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: DoodleBob

The Fourth of July celebrations bad, but I bet they are just fine with Antifa fascists exploding major fireworks thrown at police and ICE and setting all sorts of fires sending fine particulates in the air.


12 posted on 07/04/2025 7:11:18 AM PDT by Mastador1
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To: libertylover

Given the chance, leftists would ruin EVERYTHING!.


From the leftists’ point of view, the nation was founded in 1619, not 1776. Many of the Founders owned slaves so they, their ideals, words and works should be reviled by all right-thinking people. Upon hearing the National Anthem, the proper response is to kneel in protest.

Independence Day and its celebrations should be replaced by St George Floyd Day—whose official name is June Sixteenth, National Day of Independence.


13 posted on 07/04/2025 7:21:11 AM PDT by hanamizu ( )
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To: DoodleBob

Less offensive than lib farts.


14 posted on 07/04/2025 7:21:30 AM PDT by bgill
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To: ClearCase_guy

In that case, the author of this tripe is more than welcome to leave America for the totalitarian hellhole of their choice.


15 posted on 07/04/2025 7:21:59 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: DoodleBob

Global warming... It’s now apparently causing rockslides, earthquakes and volcano’s too.


16 posted on 07/04/2025 7:28:19 AM PDT by jerod (Nazis were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Bingo.


17 posted on 07/04/2025 7:28:48 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear ("Uncle Sugar" is being audited and having an enema.)
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To: DoodleBob

Not as much as global warming cultist flying to green conferences in their private jets.

If they actually believed in global warming, they would teleconference.


18 posted on 07/04/2025 7:30:41 AM PDT by Dutch Boy (The only thing worse than having something taken from you is to have it returned broken. )
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To: DoodleBob

After they catch the woods on fire? Hey, I’m no biologist.


19 posted on 07/04/2025 7:40:48 AM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: DoodleBob

But burning tires and cars is just wonderful, aint Mrs Tampon Tim?


20 posted on 07/04/2025 7:40:51 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper
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