english

- You can read more about this problem on the site "Kinderarbeit und Feuerwerk" on the German Part of stop-fireworks.org (there you find also some links to several articles in English)

Ø Where will you be when the next fireworks happen'

Ø Impressum

Ø Links

LATEST NEWS:

Ø Philippines. Exposure to firecrackers and exposure to ashfall from an exploding volcano have almost the same hazardous effects, which is why health officials have advised the people to close the windows of their houses when firecrackers are set off during the holidays revelries. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag advised residents to keep their windows closed especially during Christmas and New Year's Eves, when many fireworks are lighted at the height of revelries. "Fireworks are like ash fall in the sense that they both pose threats to our respiratory systems. They may cause asthma and aggravate other respiratory problems. So those with asthma must keep their medication handy," Tayag said in an interview. He said people with asthma should wear masks as protection against the pollution as air-conditioners and ionizer machines may not be enough to keep the particles from entering the house. (Source: "Health exec advises: Close windows vs firecrackers", 24.12.2009, http://www9.gmanews.tv/story/180115/health-exec-advises-close-windows-vs-firecrackers)

Ø South Africa. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has urged the City of Cape Town to consider reducing the number of permits for fireworks in favour of laser shows for large events. ... Laser shows "are greener than fireworks as there is no noise, air or ground pollution and they are infinitely safer". (Source: "Use laser displays not fireworks - SPCA plea", 16.12.2009, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20091216103527313C847799)

Ø Philippines. SIX REASONS AS TO WHY FIRECRACKERS ARE BAD TO PUBLIC HEALTH, CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: 1. Firecrackers can cause serious if not fatal injuries. Incorrect handling can lead to the loss of limbs, lives and properties. 2. Firecrackers produce smoke and dust loaded with harmful chemicals that can aggravate the poor air quality and cause throat and ches congestion and other health problems, particularly for people with ashtma and chemical sensitivities. 3. Firecrackers leave behind unwanted discards such as paper scraps, cellophane and plastic wrappers, and PVC pipes from "boga" that add to the mountains of holiday trash. 4. Firecrackers produce deafening noise that can lead to anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, and hearing disabilities, and trigger high blood pressure and heart attack. 5. Firecrackers can result to severe ear injuries for animals who are more sensitive to sound, so the noise hurts their ears, terrifies them, and causes them to run wildly or lose their navigational skills. 6. Firecrackers waste money that should be spent instead to buy food for the table, clothes and books for children and other essential needs. (Source: "EcoWaste Coalition Implores the Youth to 'Say No to Firecrackers' at 'Iwas PapuToxic' Campaign Launch", 16.12.2009, http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2009/12/ecowaste-coalition-implores-youth-to.html)

Ø Perm/Russia, 4.12.2009: 152 people died and 74 were injured in a blaze, when a stray firework during a stage show pyrotechnics display set off inside the Lame Horse nightclub lit the ceiling and walls. more... It's not the first time, that something like this happens. You remember, that in the first half hour of New Year 2009, a fire raced through the Santika nightclub in Bangkok/Thailand, killing at least 61 people and injuring more than 200. The fire was caused by firecrackers. On Jan. 31, 2009, 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a fire as guests set off fireworks inside a bar in the city of Changle in east China's Fujian Province. On Sept. 20, 2008, a fire broke out at the Dance King nightclub in Shenzhen city/China when more than 300 people were watching a performance and fireworks ignited flammable material of the ceiling, leaving 44 people dead and 88 others injured. On April 19, 2008, a fire ignited by fireworks swept through a crowded nightclub in Quito/Ecuador, leaving at least 15 people dead and 35 others injured. On Dec. 30, 2004, 175 people died and 700 others were injured in a fire that broke out in a nightclub called Republica de Cromagnon in downtown Buenos Aires/Argentina. The blaze began after concertgoers set off fireworks during a jammed indoor rock concert inside the club, igniting the ceiling. On Feb. 20, 2003, a blaze at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island/America, killed at least 100 people and injured more than 200 others. During a rock concert fireworks was set off on stage, igniting the walls and the ceiling.

Ø Russia has imposed a crackdown on the use of fireworks in a bid to tighten fire prevention measures in the country after the tragic nightclub fire in Perm killed 152 people. The sale of fireworks to children under 16 has been banned and curbs have been imposed on the use of pyrotechnics in the public places. The decree signed December 24, 2009, by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also bans the use of fireworks indoors, inside the buildings and structures of any kind as well as on the roofs, balconies etc., the government press service said. (Source: "Russia imposes crackdown on fireworks; nightclub toll at 152", 25.12.2009, http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Russia-imposes-crackdown-on-fireworks--nightclub-toll-at-152/559166/)

Ø England. A wildlife expert is appealing for youngsters to urge their parents to only attend organised firework displays this year to help protect animals and the environment. - Do you think fireworks should be banned? Post your comment to this article ("Expert makes fireworks plea", 17.9.2009) under http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Expert-makes-fireworks-plea.5654129.jp.

Ø <<HAPPY DIWALI WITHOUT CRACKERS 2009: Diwali is a festival of lights that depicts to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge, towards a bright future. During this festival (3 to 5 days), it has become a custom to enjoy Diwali through "Lighting Lamps", "Exchanging Sweets & Gifts" & "BURSTING FIRE CRACKERS". Diwali today means: More 'air, nose, water, land & social' pollution due to use of lots of firecrackers. More patients for hospitals during & after the festival. More of street accidents causing injuries/deaths...>> - Please click here to read the whole article of Mr K.S. Kumar from India and please download the article and forward this message to your friends!

Ø "Final Report: Evaluation of perchlorate contamination at a fireworks display: Dartmouth, Massachusetts, August 2007", http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/sites/umdrep.htm (you can download the Dartmouth report from here or direct under http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/sites/umdrep.pdf and appendices from this site or direct under http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/sites/umdapp.pdf). The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) conducted a study at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMD) campus to evaluate the potential release of perchlorate to the environment as a result of a typical "community-type" fireworks display. - Based on field investigations conducted since 2004, it appears that 11 years of fireworks displays have resulted in perchlorate contamination in soil and groundwater at the Perchlorate Study Area.

Ø ... There was 260.1 million pounds of fireworks imported in to the U.S. and for every 100,000 pounds, 3.8 people were injured. The annual costs for firework related injuries were $21 million. (Source: "Firework safety tips and precautions for Independence Day", 27.6.2009, http://www.wayneindependent.com/news/x488815302/Firework-safety-tips-and-precautions-for-Independence-Day)

Ø Fireworks are responsible for nearly 2,000 eye injuries in the United States every year, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). One-third of these injuries result in permament eye damage and one-fourth in permanent vision loss or blindness. (Source: "Fireworks can lead to serious eye injuries", 27.6.2009, http://www.bartlesvillelive.com/content/n2n/story/Fireworks-can-lead-to-serious-eye-injuries/)

Ø Read some horrible stories about fireworks and animals right here

Ø All over the world people were killed because of fireworks. And it's going on and on in 2006:

- Arikady/India, 1.1.2006: 3 people killed (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Collymore Rock/Barbados, 4.1.2006: 1 man killed

- Murukumpuzha/India, 18.1.2006: 1 person killed (fire and explosion in fireworks factory)

- Airwa Katra Town/India, 24.1.2006: 5 people killed (two teenage boys burst crackers outside a shop stashed with firecrackers, setting up a chain reaction leading to the explosion of the shop)

- Linfen City/China, 25.1.2006: 4 people killed and 6 others injured

- Linqi Town/China, 29.1.2006: 36 people killed and 48 others injured (a storehouse full of fireworks was ignited by fireworks and exploded)

- Sollan/Spain, 13.2.2006: explosion in fireworks factory caused no injured, but destroyed much of the factory and damaged roofs and windows in houses about 300 meters

- Ahmedabad/India, 15.2.2006: 1 person killed (fire and explosion in fireworks factory)

- Nalabanta Village/India, 19.2.2006: 2 people were killed and 3 others seriously injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Yame/Japan, 21.2.2006: 1 man killed

- Maraneri Village/India, 22.2.2006: 10 people were killed and 12 others seriously injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Clarksville/America, 1.3.2006: 2 men killed (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Balambadi Village/India, 3.3.2006: 3 persons killed (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Uthandivalavu/India, 10.3.2006: 1 child killed, two persons seriously injured: A man strapped himself and his children with fireworks and set them ablaze. The crackers went off killing his daughter (10); the man and his son (7) are battling for life.

- Coralville/America, 12.3.2006: 1 man killed (mobile home fire: it was most probably fireworks; neighbors say man shot off fireworks in home)

- Stafford/America, 15.3.2006: 2 men killed (home leveled when illegal manufactured and stored fireworks exploded)

- Chajaal/Guatemala, 30.3.2006: 4 persons killed, 12 others injured (explosion at a home-based fireworks factory)

- Pianguan, Shanxi Province/China, 1.4.2006: 8 persons killed, one other missing (explosion in firecracker factory)

- Jinxian County, Jiangxi Province/China, 7.4.2006: 3 persons killed, 4 others injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Malim/India, 9.4.2006: 2 children (10 and 14) killed and 4 others injured (at a procession, they were in a car throwing out fire-crackers from the car; sparks of the crackers may have entered the car and ignited the other boxes full of fireworks)

- Pernayakanpatti/India, 20.4.2006: 4 persons killed (explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit)

- Akkaraparambu/India, 4.5.2006: 7 persons killed, 11 others injured; homes in a 4-km radius around the fireworks shed sustained damages and around 20 houses nearby had their roofs blown off (explosion and fire at a fireworks manufacturing shed)

- Ciudad Juarez/Mexico, 10.5.2006: 1 person killed, 7 others injured (explosion at a clandestine fireworks shop)

- Arsikere/India, 15.5.2006: 6 persons killed, including a 2-year-old child (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Phetchaburi/Thailand, 21.5.2006: 6 persons killed, including a 1-year-old and two 8-year-old children, 6 other children severely injured, 10 other people suffered minor injuries. About 15 houses adjacent to the factory badly damaged (explosion in home fireworks factory)

- Anping County, Hebei Province/China, 22.5.2006: 2 persons killed, 4 others injured (explosion in home fireworks factory)

- Camden County/America, 3.6.2006: 2 persons killed (accident when a man had been setting off fireworks; a woman died later in hospital, the man who shot the fireworks apparently committed suicide after the incident)

- Vilacheri/India, 4.6.2006: a boy (14) died (he picked up a firecracker which did not burst and was examining it when it suddenly exploded in his face)

- Mazhuang Village, Anhui Province/China, 11.6.2006: 7 persons killed, 12 others injured (explosion in illegal home fireworks factory)

- Baltonfuzfo/western Hungary, 14.6.2006: 4 persons killed (explosion in a fireworks warehouse)

- Shariff Aguak Town, Maguindanao Province/Philippine, 23.6.2006: 5 persons killed 10 others injured (a powerful car bomb exploded in a public market; the bomb was placed in or under a parked minibus loaded with fireworks)

- Indianapolis/America, 1.7.2006: 1 man killed (After someone threw a firecracker at a relative of J.R., the following altercation ensued and J.R. was shot)

- Kansas City/America, 2.7.2006: A 8-year-old girl died (a man caused an explosion by aiming fireworks at a neighbor's house and that explosion caused the fire that resulted in the death of the girl)

- Providence, Rhode Island/America, 4.7.2006: 1 man killed (A man was setting fireworks off, it shot back in his face)

- Miami/America, 4.7.2006: A 10-year-old boy died (he was lighting fireworks in the street when he was struck by a vehicle)

- Woodston, Rooks County/America, 4.7.2006: A 4-year-old boy died (Two brothers had been popping firecrackers. There was a vehicle gasoline tank nearby, and sparks from firecrackers somehow ignited an explosion)

- Santa Ana, Calif./America, 4.7.2006: A 8-year-old boy died (he was lighting fireworks in the street when he was struck by a vehicle)

- Gloucester/America, 5.7.2006: A 15-year-old boy died (He had injuries from a mortar explosion. Investigators are not saying who was setting it off.)

- Fojo Lobal, Ponte de Lima/Portugal, 6.7.2006: 1 man killed (Someone ignited a firecracker which flew into the man's face)

- Village of Dongzhai, Shanxi Province/Northchina, 7.7.2006: 47 persons killed and 20 other injured (Many fellow villagers rushed to help extinguish a fire in a villager's home; the fire ignited stored explosives, setting off a blast that killed many.)

- Hunan Province/Southchina, 10.7.2006: 7 persons killed (including a 14-year-old girl) and 3 others injured (explosion at an illegal home firecracker factory)

- Ermua/Spain, 25.7.2006: 1 man killed (one of the rockets he was launching, exploded in his face)

- Naduveerapattu Village/India, 29.7.2006: 1 man killed (a firecracker manufacturer was killed in an explosion)

- Karaman/Turkey, 3.8.2006: 2 people killed, 4 others injured (explosion at a fireworks shop)

- Panruti/India, 8.8.2006: 1 man killed (explosion when highpower firecrackers were transported)

- Songkhla/Thailand, 14.8.2006: 2 men killed, 3 seriously injured (fireworks exploded when workers transferred fireworks from a truck to a warehouse)

- Panshi, Shizui Township, Jilin Province/China, 19.8.2006: 7 people killed, 2 others injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh state/India, 24.8.2006: 7 children were killed and ten other children injured (explosion in illegal fireworks factory)

- Jharsuguda (Orissa)/India, 6.9.2006: 2 men (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Pereiro de Aguilar (Ourense)/Spain, 8.9.2006: 1 man and 1 woman killed (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Rae Bareli village/India, 9.9.2006: a man and his wife killed (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Chockalingapuram/India, 15.9.2006: 2 men killed, 1 seriously injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province/China, 21.9.2006: 5 killed, 20 injured (A bag containing gas and fireworks a woman brought onto a bus she was riding on caught fire, leading to a blaze)

- Anuppankulam/India, 29.9.2006: a man and two women killed and 12 others injured (fire at a cracker manufacturing unit)

- Meenampatti/India, 29.9.2006: 4 killed, 29 injured (fire at a fireworks factory)

- Kuraoli town/India, 7.10.2006: 1 man and two little girls (7 and 2 1/2) killed and 12 others injured (explosion at a cracker manufacture without licence)

- Bibipur/India, 9.10.2006: 7 (including a 3-year-old girl) killed and 10 others injured (explosion at an illegally cracker manufacturing uni)

- Ballia village/India, 14.10.2006: 4 killed (explosion at a firecracker factory)

- Alangaru village (near Puttur)/India, 15.10.2006: 5 (including a 10-year-old boy) killed and 2 others injured (explosion when firecrackers were loaded or unloaded from an autorickshaw; the blast ripped apart an unauthorised firecracker manufacturing unit)

- Owaisis Hills/India, 16.10.2006: a 2-year-old girl killed and 2 children injured (when the girl fell on a pile of crackers, which have been made by her mother for Diwali, it exploded due to pressure)

- Hyderabad/India, 16.10.2006: a 6-year-old boy killed (loose crackers he lit in a small cabin, exploded on his face and the cabin went up in flames)

- Capulhuac/Central Mexico, 17.10.2006: 4 killed and 1 injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Jatani town/India, 20.10.2006: 1 man killed, two children serious (6 and 8) and another child (1 1/2) minor injured (the man died while the crackers he was manufacturing suddenly burst in his house)

- Southwest Delhi/India, 20.10.2006: 5 persons killed (A firecracker fell on a grocery shop selling firecrackers, the fire soon spread to adjoining shops)

- Villianur/India, 21.10.2006: a girl (14) killed and 5 injured (a bundle of crackers exploded accidentally)

- Pattukannu Village/India, 21.10.2006: a 14-year-old girl and a 4-year-old girl were killed (sparks from one of the crackers they burst scattered in different directions igniting a heap of fire crackers kept at the house, which then exploded)

- Jiangchuan County, Yunnan Province/China, 4.11.2006: 7 killed and 32 injured (a storehouse at a fireworks factory exploded)

- Singampatti Village, Virudhunagar district/India, 4.11.2006: 6 killed and 63 injured (lightning struck the godown of a firworks factory)

- Guatemala City/Guatemala, 20.11.2006: 18 killed including (including three minors) and some injured (A cigarette butt thrown into a stand selling fireworks ignited an enormous blaze in an open-air market)

- Hinigaran town/Philippines, 24.11.2006: 1 man killed and 1 man injured (Explosion in fireworks factory)

- Marley Farm, East Sussex/Southern England, 3.12.2006: 2 men killed (Fire and explosion in fireworks factory)

- Barangay San Jose/Philippines, 4.12.2006: 2 persons killed (Fire and explosion in fireworks factory)

- Miaoli County/Taiwan, 22.12.2006: 1 man killed (Explosion in fireworks factory)

- Maracaibo/Venezuela, 23.12.2006: 6 persons killed (including a boy) and 54 injured (Explosions ripped through dozens of fireworks stalls at an outdoor market)

- Los Minas/Dominican Republic, 24.12.2006: a 14-year-old boy killed (the boy had a stall with firework, sold another boy fireworks. This boy lit the fireworks so that the firework stall got on fire)

- Ormoc City/Philippines, 25.12.2006: 27 killed, including a pregnant woman, her 4-year old boy and two babies and 13 injured (illegally sold firecrackers inside a department store caught fire)

- San Diego Huhuecalco/Mexico, 27.12.2006: 2 killed and 1 injured (Explosion in fireworks factory)

- Bhadrak/India, 30.12.2006: 2 killed (Explosion in fireworks factory)

- Sao Paulo/Brazil, 30.12.2006: a 5-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy killed and 13 persons injured (Children playing in a room stuffed with fireworks set off an explosion.)

- Cheb/Czech Republic, 30.12.2006: 1 man killed (Man had set off firework, one fell down on the ground, when he bent over it to see what happened it set off and hit him in the face.)

- Barangay Bacayao Norte/Philippines, 30.12.2006: 1 man killed and a woman and her 4-year-old son and her 5-months-old daughter injured (Explosion in fireworks factory)

- Wonneberg, Bayern/Germany, 31.12.2006: 1 killed and 1 injured (explosion of a self-made firework)

Ø People killed by firework in 2007:

- Barendrecht/The Netherlands, 1.1.2007: 1 killed (fireworks exploded in his face)

- Turgi, Aargau canton/Switzerland, 1.1.2007: 1 killed (Man had been attempting to light a number of fireworks, and was leaning over them when one exploded in his face.)

- The Hague/The Netherlands, 1.1.2007: 1 killed (firework exploded in his face)

- Poolavoorani village/India, 5.1.2007: 3 women killed and 3 others seriously injured (Explosion and fire in fireworks factory)

- Southern Province of Guizhou/China, 15.1.2007: 1 policeman killed (By a razzia on illegally made firecrackers, firecrackers in the kitchen of a house exploded)

- Duraisamipuram/India, 24.1.2007: 2 women and 1 man killed and 8 others injured (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Zaoqiang County, northern Hebei Province/China, 5.2.2007: 6 worker killed and 2 injured (workers were transferring fireworks from one warehouse to another in a fireworks factory when the explosion occurred)

- Conargo, New South Wales/Australia, 10.2.2007: 1 killed (A man suffered critical head injuries, when a fireworks device he was attempting to light exploded prematurely, and died.)

- Anaiyur/India, 13.2.2007: 3 women killed (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Beijing/China, 18.2.2007: 1 killed (A man suffered critical head injuries by fireworks and died later in hospital.)

- Belem/Northeastern Brazil, 22.3.2007: 1 boy (11) killed (a boy was struck in the head by a firecracker in a soccer match March 22 and died March 24)

- Missoula/America, 25.3.2007: 1 man killed (A large quantity of fireworks, flash powder and other chemical ingredients used in homemade pyrotechnics caused a garage explosion)

- Maoming, Guangdong Province/China, 30.3.2007: 4 persons killed and 6 others seriously injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Pookode/India, 31.3.2007: 6 persons killed and 5 others injured (explosion in illegal fireworks unit)

- Neuhofen/Austria, 4.4.2007: 1 man killed (Man had been attempting to light a fireworks, it worked not fast enough, he was leaning over it and then it exploded in his face)

- Keelthiruthangal village/India, 5.4.2007: 2 persons killed and 3 others seriously injured (blast in a fireworks manufacturing unit)

- Kozhikode/India, 5.4.2007: 7 persons killed and more than 50 others injured (fire broke out in a firecracker shop, spread to another firecracker shop and other shops in the area)

- A village near Meslongi/Western Greece, 6.4.2007: 1 man killed (a firework that he had made exploded in his hands)

- Chendrayanpalli/India, 6.4.2007: 3 persons, including a 12-year-old boy, killed and 10 others injured (crackers were being carried in an autorickshaw when sparks from a fireworks display fell on the vehicle and the crackers along with the vehicle exploded)

- A village near Agrinion/Central Greece, 8.4.2007: 1 man killed (one of the man's hands was blown off when a firework exploded and he died from his injuries soon afterward)

- Eastern Aegean island of Icaria/Greece, 8.4.2007: 1 man killed (a homemade firework blew up in his hands)

- Ajman/United Arab Emirates, 10.4.2007: 2 persons killed and 2 others seriously injured (Two workers were killed when 300 kg of confiscated fireworks loaded in two trucks exploded. The firecrackers were to be destroyed, as per court order, but they exploded due to an error.)

- Gragnano/Italy, 23.4.2007: 3 persons killed and 2 others injured (explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Tous/Spain, 25.4.2007: 1 man killed and 2 others injured, one of them seriously (explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Downers Grove/USA, 5.5.2007: 1 man killed (an illegal fireworks display on a bachelor party: one of the men went to inspect a lit but unexploded commercial-grade firework which then blew up, hitting him - deadly - in the head)

- Montegiorgio/Italy, 11.5.2007: 2 men killed and approximately 22 others were injured, two of them seriously (explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Nagapalayam/India, 12.5.2007: 1 man killed and 4 others seriously injured (explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Rohtak/India, 9.6.2007: 3 persons killed and 11 others injured (fire, triggering explosions, at a fireworks factory)

- Narayanapuram/India, 12.6.2007: 5 women workers killed and 2 others seriously injured (fire broke out when a cracker exploded in one of the sheds and it spread to nearby sheds of a cracker manufacturing factory)

- Williston/America, 26.6.2007: 1 man killed (A decade-old box of M-80 firecrackers exploded and killed a man on the job, using a cutting torch to open an abandoned safe)

- Gharghur/Malta, 27.6.2007: 5 men killed, 1 man seriously injured (explosion in fireworks factory; the factory was totally destroyed)

- Purushottampur/India, 28.6.2007: 2 persons killed and 3 others seriously injured (explosives used for making firecrackers went off at a home)

- Lubbock, Texas/America, 30.6.2007: A girl (2) killed. (She played with a gasoline can and caught fire from a spark on a burning sparkler as she walked by another girl)

- Milwaukee/America, 1.7.2007: 2 men killed (The two men argued with a man who was lighting fireworks and beat him; the man called for help and another man helped him and shot the two men)

- Melvindale, Mich./America, 2.7.2007: A woman killed (She stuck her head over a 3-inch-wide mortar that did not go off, later it did and hit her in the head. She died July 2)

- Chicago, South Side/America, 3.7.2007: A man killed (He died of smoke inhalation in a fire at his home, caused by fireworks)

- Miami County, Kan./America, 3.7.2007: 1 man killed (At a family party a four-inch mortar went off, critically injuring him. He died from his injuries in hospital on July 4)

- Independence Township, Mich./America, 4.7.2007: 2 men killed (The two brothers were hospitalized with serious injuries after a fireworks explosion. They were apparently making fireworks. The younger died from his injuries in hospital on July 10, the older died from his injuries in hospital on July 25)

- Memphis, Tenn./America, 4.7.2007: A man killed (He was fatally wounded in a shooting that erupted over fireworks and died later in hospital)

- Springfield/America, 4.7.2007: A 4-year-old boy killed (He died after he apparently set off fireworks stored in the upstairs closet at home, resulting in a fatal fire)

- Syracuse/America, 4.7.2007: A man killed (A fight broke out after a man threw a firework into a group of people. One of the group then stabbed him)

- Texarkana, Texas/America, 4.7.2007: A 13-year-old boy killed (He was struck in the back of the head by a mortar round and died from injuries he received while shooting off fireworks, in hospital on July 6)

- Athens/America, 5.7.2007: A 7-year-old boy killed (He was struck by a mortar type round in the chest and died about 2 hours later in hospital. While he and his father were shooting fireworks in the back yard, the family dog brushed against the table, where the launch tube was)

- Cleveland/America, 5.7.2007: 2 men and a woman killed (They were shot dead by a neighbor who had asked them to keep the noise down as they were setting off fireworks in their driveway)

- Piedmont/America, 7.7.2007: brother and sister killed (A brother and his sister were severely burned during the Piedmont City fireworks show when a firework exploded low to the ground and debris set off unused fireworks in a box nearby. The sister died in hospital on July 22 from her injuries, the brother died in hospital on August 8 from his injuries)

- Joliet/America, 8.7.2007: A man killed (He was shot by another man in a quarrel about fireworks)

- Beaver Township, Wisconsin/America, 27.7.2007: A 15-year-old boy killed (He was killed by a makeshift bottle-rocket he lit, that exploded unexpectedly in his face)

- Kandipara village/India, 30.7.2007: 7 people died, 18 people were seriously injured - seven of them sustained 90 per cent burns - and 10 others were discharged after first aid (a fire broke out at a school building after an electric bulb suddenly burst in the room where villagers were making firecrackers)

- Peoria/Amerika, 12.8.2007: a 19-year-old man died (A student died of smoke inhalation after a fire in his bedroom at a off-campus house. The fire was started by lit roman candles that other students put under his bedroom door as a prank.)

- Valangaiman village/India, 18.8.2007: 1 man died and 2 others were seriously injured (explosion in a cracker manufacturing unit)

- Kumbakonam/India, 25.8.2007: A 16-year-old boy died (A tin container which was attached to one of the crackers burst along with it and caused the pieces to scatter. Some of them pierced the boy, who was watching the fireworks display, due to a weddig reception)

- Jeevangarh locality/India, 27.8.2007: Three persons, including a 3-year-old child, were killed and 15 others injured (explosion at a house where fire crackers were manufactured)

- Kalapara village/India, 28.8.2007: Three child labourers (10, 11 and 12) died (explosion in an illegal fireworks factory)

- Chifeng City/Inner Mongolia, 28.8.2007: 4 people were killed and six others injured, two of them are in serious condition with 70 and 80 per cent of their bodies burnt (explosion in a fireworks factory)

- Guayaquil/Ecuador, 16.9.2007: a 11-year-old boy was killed (Boy killed by stray fireworks during football match)

- Thazhamkuppam near Ennore/India, 16.9.2007: 7 died and 24 others were seriously injured (At a temple fest a spark from a fireworks display landed on a boy who was carrying a bundle of crackers to the temple precincts. The boy panicked and threw the crackers on the crowd nearby.)

- Peeru Banda Mohalla/India, 23.9.2007: A man died and two others were injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks factory)

- Hooghly village/India, 24.9.2007: 3 children (9, 7, 8) and a man died and another person was injured (Explosion at an illegal firecracker unit)

- Fuzhou City/China, 25.9.2007: 12 people died and 6 others were injured (Fire in a nightclub caused by fireworks set off)

- Kakori/India, 1.10.2007: A boy (14) died and his sister (10) and his brother (20) were injured (Blast in a cracker factory)

- Raipur Phulwari village/India, 12.10.2007: 5 of a family died and 2 others were critically injured (Blast in their cracker factory)

- Katra Mednipur town/India, 12.10.2007: 3 members of a family were killed and as many seriously injured (Blast in their cracker factory)

- Rajahmundry/India, 12.10.2007: 1 person died and 6 others suffered injuries (Blast in the victim's cracker factory)

- Hong'an Town/China, 21.10.2007: 17 persons died and 15 others injured - four of them, including two children, severely - and two others missing (Explosion at an unlicensed fireworks plant)

- Sijiazizhen area of Chifeng City/China, 21.10.2007: 2 persons died and 10 others are missing (Explosion in firecracker factory)

- Suthakulam village/Indien, 29.10.2007: 1 person died and 7 others were seriously injured (Explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit)

- Maioli County/Taiwan, 2.11.2007: 4 persons died and 5 others were injured (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Zurrieq/Malta, 15.11.2007: 2 persons died (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Xiashetang village/China, 24.11.2007: 3 persons died and 13 others were injured (Explosion in an illegal fireworks workshop)

- Lija/Malta, 26.11.2007: 1 person died (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Yuncheng City/China, 26.11.2007: 5 children died and 1 child was seriously injured (Children were playing inside an abandoned firecracker factory, when a small amount of expired explosives stored in the factory went off)

- Hunan Province/China, 27.11.2007: 13 persons died and 6 others were injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks workshop)

- Yangjiazhuang Township in the Yangquan City/China, 28.11.2007: 11 persons died and 8 others were injured (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Manning/America, 29.11.2007: 1 person died (Explosion at a fireworks stand)

- Chengdu/China, 30.11.2007: 6 persons died and 4 others were injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks workshop)

- Jinchang Gouliang Township in Chifeng City/China, 3.12.2007: 1 person died, 8 others were injured and 1 person is missed (Explosion at a fireworks workshop)

- Liuyang City/China, 8.12.2007: 6 persons died, 2 others were injured and 2 persons are missed (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Krasnoyarsk/Russia, 29.12.2007: 2 persons died (Explosion in an old ammunition shelter used to store fireworks)

- Zwickau/Germany, 30.12.2007: 1 man died (Explosion by making fireworks by him-self)

- Löbau/Germany, 31.12.2007: a 15-year-old girl died (2 youths had shot from the outside a fireworks into a resounds, which started a fire. The girl died in the fire.)

- Poland, 31.12.2007: a 18-year-old boy died and a 18-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were injured (a home-made firework exploded in the hands of the men)

Ø People killed by firework in 2008:

- Philippines, 5./6.1.2008: A man suffered multiple injuries in his body from the shrapnel's of the firecracker that exploded on the night of December 31, 2007, and died of (firecracker-related) tetanus.

- Sanbing Town/China, 8.1.2008: 3 people killed and 2 others were injured (explosion in fireworks factory)

- Philippines, 8.1.2008: A man died of infection. An unidentified firecracker that wounded 31.12.2007/1.1.2008 his right thumb brought about the infection.

- Duanguzhuang Village/China, 20.1.2008: 6 people killed and an other injured (explosion at an illegal fireworks factory)

- Istanbul/Turkey, 31.1.2008: 23 people died and 117 others were injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks factory)

- Bukit Gambir Town/Malaysia, 5.2.2008: A man was killed (A box of fireworks exploded, hitting him in the chest.)

- Castiglione in Teverina in the Province of Viterbo/Italy, 6.2.2008: 4 persons died and an other person was severely injured (Explosion at a fireworks factory)

- Beijing's Pinggu District/China, 7.2.2008: a man died (He was badly injured while igniting a kind of homemade firework ball.)

- Anuppankulam/India, 7.2.2008: a man died (Explosion in cracker manufacturing unit)

- Bacolad City/Philippines, 7.3.2008: a man died (A man was stabbed on the chest and died after he complained about the other man's use of firecrackers)

- Naxxar/Malta, 12.3.2008: a man and a woman died and three other women were injured (A garage containing fireworks exploded)

- Liujing Town/South China, 15.3.2008: four men killed and one other injured (Explosion in a fireworks factory)

- Chawinda/Pakistan, 23.3.2008: a man killed and his 15-year-old daughter was severely injured (Fireworks explosion in a house where a man was preparing fireworks)

- Dubai/United Arab Emirates, 26.3.2008: eight persons died and 27 others were injured (explosion in a warehouse storing illegally fireworks and a fire)

- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/Northwest China, 26.3.2008: 24 persons died and 8 others were injured (Firecracker explosion/The blast occurred when local officials tried to destroy eight truckloads of firecrackers in the Gobi desert)

- Quito/Ecuador, 19.4.2008: at least 15 persons died and about 35 others were injured (Fire at a nightclub because someone inside lit fireworks, the sparks flew upward and ignited material in the ceiling.)

- Jehanabad/India, 19.4.2008: 7 members of a family, including four women and three children, died and four others were injured (Explosion at an illegally run cracker manufacturing unit)

- Asureshwar/India, 21.4.2008: a twelfe-year-old boy was killed and 16 others suffered injuries, 14 of them critically (As part of a temple ceremony firecrackers were burnt; a flicker fell on stocks of crackers at the site, triggering a blast and major fire.)

- Olathe/America, 12.5.2008: a man died (Explosion caused by homemade pyrotechnic powder and fire in the man's home.)

- Wuzhuang village/China, 5.6.2008: 3 people were killed and 15 injured (Explosion in a house; police found a number of fuses for firecrackers in the debris...)

- Majaal Wala/Pakistan, 14.6.2008: 3 children (6, 2 and 18 months) and a youth (17) were killed and 2 women were injured (A heap of firecrackers stocked in a house where fireworks is manufactured, caught fire...)

- Abdullah Town/Pakistan, 23.6.2008: 4 minor labourers (10, 10, 12, 23) died and another factory worker was seriously injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks factory)

- New Madrid/America, 4.7.2008: a man died (he died after a fireworks mortar struck him; he was helping at the city's Fourth of July fireworks display)

- Brookings/America, 6.7.2008: a man died (a makeshift bomb made out of sparkler fireworks he was handling exploded)

- Carlisle/America, 11.7.2008: a man died and a woman was injured (the man died after the firework he had lit, exploded in his face)

- Rayachoti/India, 14.7.2008: 2 people died (Explosion while a man was manufacturing firecrackers; two of his helpers died in the explosion)

- Visakhapatnam/India, 17.7.2008: 8 people, including 5 women and 2 children, were killed and 7 others injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks factory)

- Marengo/America, 3.8.2008: 2 teenager were killed (An 'improvised fireworks' detonated prematurely.)

- Déols/France, 4.8.2008: a man died (explosion and fire in a warehouse of pyrotechnical material)

- Moradabad district/India, 5.8.2008: 2 women were killed (They were killed when explosives used in crackers went off in an explosion.)

- Ahmed Nagar Village/Pakistan, 16.8.2008: A boy was killed and another boy (15) sustained critical burn injuries (Explosion and fire in a firecracker factory.)

- Sijiazi Township/North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 30.8.2008: 15 workers, including 11 women, died and six others were injured (Explosion at a fireworks plant.)

- Huerces/Spain, 31.8.2008: A young girl died and four others were injured (A tractor transporting fireworks exploded.)

- Maheshtala/India, 8.9.2008: 1 man died (Blast in a cracker factory.)

- Eastern Bekaa Valley/Lebanon, 11.9.2008: 5 men died (Fireworks, smuggled in a truck, exploded.)

- Shenzhen/China, 20.9.2008: 44 persons died and 87 were injured, four of them life-threatening (blaze and stampede at a nightclub. The fire was triggered by fireworks set off during a performance.)

- Gunduripada village/India, 28.9.2008: A man and 7 children died (Firecrackers kept in a house of a firecrackers manufacturer exploded.)

- Shanghai/China, 5.10.2008: A man died (He was loading fireworks for fireworks displays on a truck when the fireworks exploded.)

- Roi Et province/Thailand, 17.10.2008: 5 men were killed and 12 others injured (A home-made firework exploded during celebrations, it exploded on the ground instead of firing into the air.)

- Lucknow/India, 17.10.2008: A couple were killed and several other persons sustained minor injuries (Over 50 kilogram of crackers which the couple were carrying home on a motorcycle, exploded, when the motorcycle on which they were riding skidded.)

- Orissa/India, 25.10.2008: 3 men died (3 men were carrying firecrackers on a motorcycle.)

- Burewala/Pakistan, 26.10.2008: 2 women and a 16-year-old girl died and 6 other persons were injured, five of them seriously (Explosion in an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Bihar's Gopalganj district/India, 28.10.2008: 3 children died and one other person was seriously injured (In a private house a lamp accidentally fell on firecrackers and that led to an explosion of the crackers and to a fire.)

- Udham Singh Nagar district/India, 28.10.2008: A man died (Fire broke out in a cracker stall, spread and engulfed as many as 193 cracker stalls.)

- Xiapai Village/China, 16.11.2008: A 4-year-old boy and three women were killed and a 14-year-old girl and a man were seriously injured (Explosion at an illegal village firework plant.)

- Tancheng County/China, 21.11.2008: Two female workers died and a man (nearby in a field) was injured (Explosion at a fireworks plant)

- Adlikon/Switzerland, 22.11.2008: A youth (16) died and another (18) was severely injured (a homemade firework exploded too early)

- State of Puebla/Mexico, 25.11.2008: A man and a woman died (They were killed in an explosion at an unlicensed fireworks warehouse.)

- Toluca/Mexico, 7.12.2008: A man died and another one was injured (Pilgrims setting off bottle rockets apparently ignited a cache of fireworks in one of their pickup trucks, causing an explosion.)

- Metro Manila/Philippines, 31.12.2008: A 19-year-old youth died (He had picked up a large firecracker that exploded on his face.)

- Vigan City/Philippines, 31.12.2008: A man died (A man lighted a firecracker on the street near a shop where firecrackers were sold. The firecrackers in the shop were ignited by the man's firework and started a blaze, in which a man died.)

- Hungary, 31.12.2008/1.1.2009: A man died (A man was shot at the head by a fireworks when he bent over it.)

Ø People killed by firework in 2009:

- Cooper City/America, 1.1.2009: A man died (A man was setting off professional-grade fireworks in his backyard when he was somehow injured by one of the explosives.)

- Bangkok/Thailand, 1.1.2009: 66 people died and over 200 others were injured (fire in a nightclub; police believe the fire may have been caused by fireworks.)

- Navotas/Philippines, 1.1.2009: A man died (He succumbed to asthma attack caused by thick smoke from lighted firecrackers and fireworks.)

- San Ildefonso town/Philippines, 2.1.2009: A nine-year-old boy died (The boy was playing in an abondoned fireworks factory when a firecracker exploded.)

- Sitio Balubaran, Barangay Duhat/Philippines, 2.1.2009: 2 men died and another was seriously injured (Explosion in a fireworks factory.)

- Weifang City/China, 3.1.2009: 13 persons, including women, died and 2 others were injured (Explosion in an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Guozhuang Town/China, 4.1.2009: One person died (Explosion in an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Qingtan town/China, 11.1.2009: 5 persons died and 9 others were injured (Explosion in a fireworks factory.)

- Yanhe County/China, 23.1.2009: 6 persons died and 5 others were injured (Explosion in an illegal fireworks workshop.)

- Campo de Mirra/Spain, 23.1.2009: 3 people were injured (Explosion in a fireworks factory.)

- Baranagar/India, 25.1.2009: A man was killed and three men were injured (Explosion in an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Harbin/China, 27.1.2009: A man and two children (13, 9) died and 2 others were injured (Blast at a fireworks stall.)

- Trece Martires City/Philippines, 29.1.2009: 11 persons were killed and about 61 others were injured (Explosion in a fireworks factory.)

- Seoni/India, 30.1.2009: A man died and his wife was injured (Blast in a couple's house where firecrackers being made.)

- Changle/China, 31.1.2009: 15 people died and 22 others were injured (Young people were setting off fireworks at their table inside a bar and starting a blaze with this.)

- Sungai Baong/Malaysia, 3.2.2009: A 19-year-old was killed (A firecracker he was trying to let-off, exploded, when he bent over it, because he thought it was a dud.)

- Pingqiao Village/China, 7.2.2009: 6 persons died and 9 others were injured (Explosion in an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Mezhathur/India, 26.2.2009: 5 workers were killed and 8 others were injured , two of them seriously (Explosion in a cracker unit.)

- Holiday/America, 7.3.2009: A man died (Fire at a fireworks store.)

- Amritsar/India, 9.3.2009: A boy (14) and a worker were killed and two others seriously injured (Explosion and fire in an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Jammu/India, 15.3.2009: A man died (A cracker accidentally hit him on the head during a party while others were busting crackers.)

- Nuapalli village/India, 29.3.2009: 3 persons died and 12 others were injured (Explosion in a fireworks manufacturing unit.)

- Chechawatni/India, 30.3.2009: 4 persons died (Explosion at a firecracker shop.)

- Zhouwo Township/China, 2.4.2009: 4 persons died (Fireworks explosion at a farmhouse.)

- Parola/India, 10.4.2009: 24 persons died and 48 others were injured (Explosion and fire in a fireworks factory.)

- Salem/India, 16.4.2009: One person died and 4 others were injured (Crackers stored in a shop caught fire triggering an explosion.)

- Maskanwa/India, 20.4.2009: A man was killed and 9 others were injured (Explosion in a cracker shop. The cracker shop caught fire, triggering a series of explosion.)

- Chaineyajjeypur village/India, 26.4.2009: 2 persons (35, 15) were killed and a five-year-old boy was injured (Explosion at an illegale firecracker manufacturing unit.)

- Balizhuang village/China, 27.4.2009: 2 persons were killed, one injured and one is missing (Fireworks explosion at a farmhouse. The blast was caused by illegal storage of fireworks.)

- Yangzhuangzi Village/China, 2.5.2009: 13 persons died and 2 others were critically injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Tanbu Town/China, 7.5.2009: 3 persons were killed and 4 others were injured (Explosion at a fireworks plant.)

- Qinzhou City/South China, 8.5.2009: 4 persons were killed (Explosion at a fireworks plant.)

- Yishui County/East China, 8.5.2009: A couple died and their son was injured (Explosion at a fireworks plant.)

- Kannampara/India, 24.5.2009: 15 people were injured, 2 of them seriously (A firecracker burst in the middle of people during a procession.)

- Dastagiripeta Harijanwada/India, 25.5.2009: Three persons died and 9 others were seriously injured (Explosion in the house of an unauthorised cracker manufacturer.)

- Karachi/Pakistan, 26.6.2009: 4 persons died and at least 26 others - including women and children - were injured (Explosion in an illegal firecracker factory.)

- Guzhuangying Village/China, 27.6.2009: 6 died and 4 others were injured (Explosion in an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Dibble/America, 4.7.2009: A man died (A man died when the device of an artillery shell aerial firework he had lit, shot him in the head.)

- Ocracoke Island/America, 4.7.2009: A woman and three men died, another man was seriously injured (A truck carrying fireworks for a July Fourth holiday display exploded while the workers were unloading it.)

- Quakertown/America, 4.7.2009: A man (19) died (An employee of a fireworks company was killed by an explosion during a Fourth of July fireworks.)

- Vadakkampatti/India, 7.7.2009: 18 persons died and more than 25 were injured (Explosion in a firecracker factory.)

- Muridke/Pakistan, 15.7.2009: Two men, three women and a child were killed and 12 others were injured, eight of them critically (Explosion at an illegally fireworks factory.)

- Maradu/India, 17.7.2009: Two women and a girl (13) died and a man suffered minor injuries (Around 1,000 kg of crackers stored in a house exploded.)

- Namaskarichanpatti/India, 20.7.2009: 15 workers died and more than 25 others were injured (Explosion and fire at a fireworks manufacturing unit.)

- Near Sivakasi/India, 26.7.2009: A man died (Explosion in an illegal cracker-making unit.)

- Neuhaus/Switzerland, 28.7.2009: A man died (Explosion of fireworks.)

- Hendek/Turkey, 17.8.2009: 1 worker died and 37 others were injured (Explosion at a fireworks factory.)

- Bacolod City/Philippines, 18.8.2009: A man was killed (Explosion and fire at a house used as a makeshift firecracker factory.)

- Teror/Spain, 19.8.2009: 2 men died and 38 others were injured, one of them critically (Explosion and fire at a fireworks factory.)

- Mettamalai/India, 29.8.2009: 2 workers were killed and 3 others were injured (Explosion at a cracker unit.)

- Gyodhiya village/India, 12.9.2009: 5 members of a family were killed (Explosion while making crackers illegally.)

- Nagla Gola village/India, 13.9.2009: 2 people were killed and 2 others were injured (Explosion at a firecracker factory.)

- Sheikhupura/Pakistan, 15.9.2009: 2 children (12, 8) were killed and two others (5, 4) were critically injured (The children were playing with firecrackers.)

- Konya/Turkey, 16.9.2009: A four-year-old boy died (The child died from phosphorus poisoning after he swallowed a firecracker.)

- Voronezh/Russia, 23.9.2009: A man was killed and at least 55 others were injured (Explosion at a fireworks warehouse in a residential area.)

- Johannesburg/South Africa, 24.9.2009: A man died (Explosion of a fireworks.)

- Tiruvannamalai district/India, 24.9.2009: 3 men, 3 women and 5 children, died and 13 other people were injured (Explosion caused by firecrackers stored illegally in a house in a residential area.)

- Santo André/Brazil, 24.9.2009: 2 people died and about 20 others were injured (Explosion at an illegal fireworks storage facility. Fireworks were made illegally in the shop.)

- Taipei/Taiwan, 6.10.2009: A woman died (The woman died in a blaze that was sparked by nearby firecrackers.)

- Sholavandan town/India, 6.10.2009: Two men were killed and 9 other persons were injured (A parcel containing a large number of fireworks exploded soon after it was offloaded from a train.)

- Shikonhabad city/India, 14.10.2009: One man was killed and a 12-year-old girl was injured (Explosion in a cracker factory.)

- Pallipattu/India, 16.10.2009: 34 persons were killed and at least 10 others were severely injured (Explosion and fire at a firecracker store and warehouse.)

- Shikarpur town/India, 16.10.2009: One person and a child (10) were killed and 12 others were injured (A blaze at a firecracker market.)

- Gujrawala/Pakistan. 30.10.2009: One person died and three others were severely injured (Explosion at a fireworks factory.)

- Dafuzhuang Village/China. 10.11.2009: Three people were killed and another one was injured (Explosion at a firecrackers workshop.)

- Yanghui Village/Pakistan. 12.11.2009: 2 children died and eleven children and a 61-year-old man were severely injured (Explosion at a private illegal fireworks workshop.

- Gaozuo town/China. 28.11.2009: Three people were killed and four others were injured (Explosion at a fireworks factory.)

- Dongti village/China. 1.12.2009: Three people were killed (Explosion at an illegal fireworks factory.)

- Perm/Russia. 4.12.2009: 155 people were killed and 58 others were injured (Blaze, when a stray firework during a stage show pyrotechnics display set off inside a nightclub lit the ceiling and walls.)

- Lima/Peru. 7.12.2009: Five people, including a three-year-old girl, were killed (Fireworks, stored in a house, blew up.)

Ø People killed by firework in 2010:

- Pucheng County/China, 1.1.2010: 9 workers were killed and eight others were injured (Explosion in a fireworks factory.)

- Anhui province/China, 10.1.2010: 3 people and a child died and two others were injured (Explosion at an illegal firecracker workshop.)

Prevent your friends from coughing. Stop fireworks.

For much too long, discussion on the negative effects of fireworks focussed only on burns, and explosion injuries to the eyesight and hearing. On rare occasions, topics like animals' distress, child labour during production and the lack of safety precautions in firework factories were touched upon.

Today, we all know that the major problem of fireworks lies completely elsewhere: Fireworks are mainly a fine dust problem.

Fine dust (PM10) can aggravate both existing diseases and also cause new. Therefore, not only a minority of the population is affected, but each and every one of us!

There are of course larger sources of fine dust than that generated by fireworks, but there is not one single that causes such a tremendous load, within the shortest time, as fireworks do. When igniting fireworks, the fine dust limit can be exceeded by a thirty-fold and even higher.

A rise of the PM10-concentration (fine dust) in the air by 10 µg/m³ only (ten micro gram per cubic meter of air) can cause

- symptoms in the respiratory tracts (cough, excessive flem, shortness of breath)

- bronchitis, asthma, arrhythmia

- emergency visits to doctors and emergency rooms at hospitals

- hospitalisation because of pneumonia, asthma attacks, cardiac disorder and other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases

- job absences with economic implications

- and in the worst case, fatalities as a result of these diseases.

When igniting fireworks, a mixture of chemical substances are released, very similar to that of an explosion. During the burn-off process, the different materials blend and cause chemical reactions; a multitude of new substances of unknown composition and toxicity accrues.

Fine dust does not stop at borders and does not respect city or country lines: fine dust travels hundreds of kilometers into all directions and remains in the ambient air for a long time – sometimes for days. This fine dust finds its way through each and every crack of our buildings. As long as our houses cannot be 100% sealed, it is not sufficient for those concerned just to stay indoors as a protection shield against this hazard.

Whether fireworks are burned down "correctly" or "incorrectly", by amateurs in their own garden or by skilled and specially trained professionals on public events makes no difference: in the end, the emissions remain the same.

The lights and colours, the sounds and sights of exploding fireworks whilst beautiful fade away in seconds. The pollution of the air remains for a lot longer, and the deposit of heavy metals in soil and waters remains for decades. It can take several weeks for people that are sensitive to fine dust, for example asthmatics, to recover!

Can we accept that the amount of fine dust remains on the increase because of fireworks? Fireworks are after all only for amusement – can this be justified? Environmental protection and international campaigns to reduce fine dust become a farce and untrustworthy when not including the banning of fireworks.

The governments show no sign of action – it is up to you, therefore, to act!

Join now in solidarity in favour of all those who primarily suffer a health loss by

firework emissions, from high short-term fine dust loads respectively,

- like unborn babies and newborn, as well as infants

- people with respiratory diseases (asthma, COPD/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, pulmonary emphysema, lung cancer etc.) and cardiovascular diseases

- people with Persistent Hyperreactivity (multiple chemical sensitivity, TILT/Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance, CFS/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia etc.) and Low-Dose RADS/Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome as well as the

- elderly people over the age of 65.

Give up therefore all intentions of letting off any kind of fireworks!

Text "Prevent your friends from coughing. Stop fireworks." as pdf