Hazardous fireworks

The history of using chemicals to generate heat, light, smoke, noise and motion has existed for several thousand years, originating most likely in China or India.

Much of the early use of chemical energy involved military applications. It was used in a variety of ways in both sea and land battles and added a new dimension to military science.

Pyrotechnics is the art of making fireworks. The Chinese were involved in pyrotechnics and had developed rockets by the 10th century. Fireworks were available in China around 1200AD. Chinese firecrackers became a popular item in the United States when trade began in the 1800s. The Japanese now also produces beautiful fireworks, but they do not appear to have developed the necessary technology until fireworks were brought to Japan around 1600AD. Many of the advances in fireworks technology over the past several centuries have come from these two Asian nations. This technology has since spread into Europe, Russia and America.

Fireworks form a unique part of the cultural heritage of many countries. For example, the Americans use fireworks on Independence Day, English use it on Guy Fawkes Day, the French use it extensively around Bastille Day, while in Germany, the Germans' use of fireworks is limited to one hour per year, from midnight to 1 am on every new year.

In Malaysia, much of the Chinese and Malay cultures use firecrackers to celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa. Other important occasions where fireworks are used include wedding ceremonies and the opening of new businesses.

However, the use of fireworks has an ugly side to it. Firecrackers, for example can cause many serious accidents. Many cases of painful injuries, burning houses and death have been associated with the use of firecrackers. It is therefore important that those involved in the manufacture of fireworks understand the principles which govern the operation of the various devices and the composition of the chemicals in the fireworks as well.

The handling of fireworks is never entirely safe. Even with the greatest care, accidents can occur, not only to those who use them but also those who make them.

Homemade fireworks are often more hazardous. Those who make their own fireworks tend to combine the chemicals taken from various other devices to create a bigger explosion. They do not realise or understand how dangerous this could be because they do not have the proper understanding of the science and art of making firecrackers.

The government has warned the public on numerous occasions to avoid the use of such fireworks. Still, each year, fireworks injure many Malaysians, especially children and teenagers. Fireworks are also toxic when ingested.

One of the reasons why fireworks injuries continue to occur is that people just do not consider how dangerous these devices can be. They do not comprehend that they could run the risk of being injured or suffer an illness later. They run the risk of being struck blind, or being poisoned from the chemicals that make up the device.

Giving fireworks to young children can mean a trip to the hospital emergency room due to painful injury or accidental ingestion of chemicals.

Any of the following chemicals, which are potential health hazards, can be part of a fireworks device: potassium nitrate, barium chlorate, arsenic, strontium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, copper oxide, sodium bicarbonate, carbon, sulphur, perchlorate, aluminium powder.

There are several types of sparklers which contain different mixtures of chemicals. For example, the gold sparklers may contain barium and nitrate compounds, paste, chalk, dextrin, iron and aluminium; green sparklers contain barium and nitrate compounds, potassium perchlorate, wheat pastes, gum, dextrin and aluminium powder.

Red sparklers contain strontium compounds, nitrate and potassium perchlorate, gums, wheat pastes, dextrin and aluminium powder. The purposes of these different chemicals are to supply oxygen and carbon to give the various effects of that particular device, for example, the sound, the colours, the bursts and so on. Furthermore, most pyrotechnic reactions produce significant quantities of smoke and may not be desirable because it is produced by chemicals that are poisonous.

Chlorate-based mixtures and perchlorate compositions are hazardous because of their low ignition temperatures. Their flash and sound compositions must be considered dangerous and have killed many people at fireworks manufacturing plants in the United States, China and other countries. This includes Malaysia, the prime example being the Sungai Buloh incident in Selangor in the late 80s.

Chlorates are principally toxic by inhalation and ingestion. They are potent oxidising agents; exposure may result in hemolysis - the destruction of red blood cells - with methaemoglobin formation. Chlorates are directly nephrotoxic; acute renal failure may also be noted. Other symptoms include vomiting and abdominal pain.

A person can be exposed to barium compounds through inhalation and accidental ingestion. The soluble barium salts contained in firecrackers can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, shallow breathing, convulsions, coma and death from respiratory or cardiac failure.

Inhalation may produce a benign pneumoconiosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling dust. Other important signs and symptoms of barium poisoning include muscular paralysis, arterial hypertension and profound hypokalaemia.

Exposure to nitrate compounds is through inhalation. This can cause corrosion of the skin and other tissues from topical contact and acute pulmonary oedema or chronic obstructive lung disease from inhalation. Although nitrates are generally not absorbed in toxic amounts from skin contact, it may be significantly absorbed in burned areas of the skin. Chronic exposure of more than 5mg/kg/day is considered unacceptable.

It has been reported that people suffering from serious burns wounds develop severe methaemoglobinemia after being accidentally sprayed with a molten mixture of potassium and sodium nitrates.

The severity of the illness that results is attributed to nitrites which can be generated from the nitrates when exposed to extremely high temperatures. Common findings associated with nitrate poisoning include unconsciousness, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, hypotension and headache.

Exposure to sulphur compounds is through inhalation. Poisoning by sulphur compounds manifests itself with a number of clinical symptoms. It can irritate the skin, eyes, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Acute inhalation of sulphur powder or dust may result in shortness of breath, cough, tightness and a feeling of burning in the chest. Molten sulphur may also cause severe skin damage.

The cost of treating a fireworks injury far outweighs the cost of a single fireworks package. The average hospital emergency room and ward charges will cause the public and government hundreds or even thousands of ringgit. That's only the fiscal cost. What about the human one?

As fireworks are unpredictable, injuries and poisonings can occur even if the person is careful or under supervision. The best way to avoid injury and accidental poisoning is not to keep or use fireworks.

The writer is currently an associate researcher is the National Poison Centre and is a lecturer specialising in Social Pharmacy.