Little-known fume risk from fireworks

I READ Pete Williams’ letter “Pollution and New Year Pyrotechnics” (Gazette 11.1.17) in which he wrote that he hopes the thousands of pounds of fireworks let off along the River Thames on New Year’s Eve were low emission, as he is concerned about air pollution.

I agree with him because there are health risks from fireworks.

The British Lung Foundation said that firework night and the following day are the peak days for asthma and hospital admissions for chronic lung disease.

Fireworks pollute the air with toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, aluminium, cadmium and radioactive barium – which are not good for anyone.

Some of these are used to give fireworks their colours. Smoke from fireworks consists of fine toxic dusts that can enter the lungs and is a major concern for people with breathing problems.

Work should be done on producing fireworks which are less harmful to health and the environment. NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED