Could fireworks actually cause global warming?

[Tony]

Global warming! Almost any newspaper or magazine that you pick up contains an article about global warming and the dire consequences therefrom.

If you want your great-grandchildren to own ocean front property, then buy them some land in the foothills. The ice caps are melting and the oceans are rising! I read that any new lawnmower that I might buy will be equipped with a smog device. I have not been allowed to burn twigs or leaves or even light a fire in my burn barrel for years.

I see where new homes must have a special attachment on their chimney if they want a wood-burning fireplace. Our cars are equipped with so many smog-eliminating devices that the backyard mechanic is a thing of the past. Manufacturing plants and factories spend millions of dollars making sure we all abide by the rules that our Congress dreams up to slow the terrible specter of global warming.

But, fireworks are OK.

It was said that there were 1,000 shells readied for the New Year's celebration in Old Sacramento. Fireworks are made from various types of gunpowder with all sorts of chemicals mixed in to obtain the wonderful colors that cause the "oohs and aahs" from the crowd as they explode in the air.

Let's see, 1,000 shells at about 20 pounds each could amount to 10 tons of smoke and pollutants being released in the air above Sacramento. Multiply this times all the cities in the U.S. that enjoy New Year's and Fourth of July fireworks. Add the fireworks that are used at outdoor games and concerts throughout the year. Add the smoke and chemicals from the bombs and ammunition expended daily in the existing wars.

Are we really worried about global warming? Bah humbug!

 

[GMP82]

Well, the author IS right about this. Let's put it this way, fireworks will not benefit health, but on the greater scale, it is definitily (in my opinion) one of the many polluting materials, but definately not the most important one!
The author is mentioning America. Well, let them first accept and cooperate with the Kyoto protocol, wich means car and factory gass pollution must decrease (which will affect the economy) and thén we will discuss further on the polluting rate of fireworks.

 

[HocusPocus.Pyro]

The absolute masses of "greenhouse gasses" liberated to the environment by setting off firework are neglible. There are alot more substantial releases of greenhouse gasses to the environment from other sources. Fireworks are typically used during festive days, where it often peaks in one or two nights. Many studies confirm this pattern. This "peak" in emission often quickly fades away in any measurement. It is safe to say that the relative contribution of fireworks to the global warming can be ignored.

FYI: “Greenhouse gases� are the following gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and [[sulfur hexafluoride]] (SF6). (See link for source.)

From the above list, it is known that only CO2 and N2O are produced. The rest will be burned, or won't be synthesised at all. Again, for CO2 and N2O it is safe to say that a typical coal fired electricity plant poses a much larger threat to the environment than most of the fireworks combined together.

 

[Vavoom]

Following the author's line of thought:
If we would all just stop farting as(s) well, then global warming would be a much lesser issue.

I'd rather follow Hocus' post.