Ministry encourages not to use fireworks
Fireworks should not be used before, on, or after Independence Day because they create air pollution and noise hazards that harm the health of the entire public. The Environmental Protection Ministry issued this plea, especially this year in light of the Israel-Hamas “Iron Swords” War.
The fireworks used on Independence Day can produce very high and sudden sound levels that can result in damage to the health of body and mind.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that noise imposed on children, even momentarily, should not exceed 120 decibels, while noise from fireworks often reaches more than 150 decibels. That is, noise that is at least 1,000 times more powerful than the recommended threshold (decibels increase on a logarithmic scale).
The human ear has several builtin defenses against noise. Those natural defense mechanisms take a relatively long time to start working. For example, there is a muscle in the middle ear that, after about 200 milliseconds (a fifth of a second) of a loud sound, reacts and slightly reduces the transmission of the sound toward the inner ear. However, this system can’t handle the type of noise created by fireworks, as 200 milliseconds is not enough when impulsive noise is involved.
Therefore, without adequate artificial hearing protection, the ear is exposed to a very dangerous stimulus that may cause permanent hearing damage ranging from tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears) to some levels of deafness.
The ministry recommends that pet owners prepare for possible firework noises and protect the pets.
Many dogs and cats naturally react to the sound of explosions with great fear and panic, as many animals hear the noise of fireworks with a stronger intensity than humans. The source of the noise and its cause are not clear to them nor is the limited period of time in which it occurs.
Farm owners must behave responsibly with their animals, and prepare in advance for the future noise hazards that may be on Independence Eve.
They must put their animals in protected spaces as much as possible, without harming their well-being. They must prepare for the reaction of animals that may be stressed by the noise and move away objects that could harm and injure them.
As for the emission of pollutants, studies conducted in China and the US have shown that in countries where fireworks are widely used, they contribute to air pollution. The burning process in the refinery causes the emission of pollutants, and the fireworks themselves also contain metals that produce the various colors, and apparently contribute to air pollution. For this reason as well, fireworks should be avoided.