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Ottawa Citizen

Dakroury: Fireworks are perilous to people, animals and the planet

I'm all for celebration: national pride, community spirit and giving children those magical memories of sparkly skies and loud booms. I get it, it's fun. But while the show may last only a few dazzling minutes, the impact lingers far longer. Fireworks in our capital city aren't as harmless as they seem. I know it's an unpopular opinion, but it's worth opening that Pandora's box. Article content Article content I'm also a worried citizen, a pet owner and eco-individual living in our city, trying to make sense of it all. While we're launching joy into the sky, we're also launching smoke, debris and sometimes chaos into the lives of animals, lungs and our already-struggling green spaces — especially during wildfire season, when one rogue spark could mean disaster. Article content Article content Instead of focusing on what's obvious (fireworks are fun, sure), let's talk about what comes after: the health effects on people, the distress caused to animals, the strain on our environment and the risks to public safety. It is time we sincerely explored safer, greener alternatives for national celebrations — along with more sensible bylaws to regulate how and where fireworks are sold. Article content To establish the extent of the issue, the Government of Canada's Health Infobase reported 210 fireworks-related injuries between April 2011 and April 2023. Most incidents occurred between May and August, especially around Victoria Day and Canada Day. Burns were the most common injury, followed by eye injuries. Nearly three-quarters of injured individuals required emergency treatment, and more than 11 per cent were hospitalized. Article content Article content Let's tackle the first major issue: pollution. A 2024 study in Québec claimed fireworks cause only minimal and localized air pollution. However, health experts argue that even low levels of air pollution can be harmful. Ève Riopel of L'association québécoise des médecins pour l'environnement emphasized that 'there is no safe level of air pollution.' Epidemiologist Paul Villeneuve added that short-term spikes in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — which fireworks produce — are linked to increased hospital visits for asthma and other respiratory issues. The World Health Organization's Global Air Quality Guidelines identify pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, and SO₂ as harmful even at low levels. Article content Article content Studies show fireworks can 'increase air pollutants by 42%, damage the ozone layer, and spike PM2.5 levels up to tenfold.'