Have you ever heard of the great legend of how fireworks were created?  No?  Well, hold onto your sparklers, because here it is!   Apparently, 2,000 years ago, a Chinese cook was working in a field kitchen.  He (or she) happened to mix up charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter, which were all commonly found in old-time Chinese field kitchens.  The mixture started burning and was (details are vague here) compressed into a bamboo tube.  It exploded, causing a bright array of sparks!  And so, fireworks were born.

Flash forward to present day, and we’ve got the most incredible fireworks displays the planet has possibly ever seen.  But the ingredients of fireworks haven’t changed that much.  They still contain the same mix-match of chemicals like potassium perchlorate.  Percholate is a baddie chemical with adverse affects on people and the environment.  And now studies show that it seeps into lakes, trees, dirt, and people after it explodes in the air over our heads.  The EPA studied a lake in Oklahoma after a 2007 fireworks celebration.  According to the EPA’s Richard Wilkin, “Within 14 hours of the pyrotechnic display, the perchlorate level in the lake spiked as high as 1,000 times its baseline value.” The researchers found that it took anywhere from 20 to 80 days for the perchlorate level to come down to its background level. 

Further, Dr. Thomas Klapotke, professor of inorganic chemistry at the University of Munich, shares that the colors in fireworks will kill us all.  “The barium compounds that produce (the color) green are transformed when fireworks explode into water-soluble chemicals that are poisonous…this can cause heart and lung problems.”  So if you just watch the fireworks while holding your breath the entire time, you’ll be fine!

But things are getting greener for fireworks.  New fireworks can be considerably less toxic.  Researchers have developed new pyrotechnic formulas that “replace perchlorate with nitrogen-rich materials or nitrocellulose that burn cleaner and produce less smoke.”  Further, reports show that these nitrogen-rich formulas also use fewer color-producing chemicals, “dramatically cutting down on the amount of heavy metals used and lowering their potentially toxic effects.” 

And then there are air-launch fireworks.  Disney introduced these greener fireworks in 2004 for their nightly display over Anaheim.  (I used to live near Orange County around this time – you could and still can see the Disneyland firework smoke for miles.  Because more smoke is just what Southern California needs for its air quality.)  Air launch fireworks use compressed air to lift fireworks, eliminating the need for smoke-producing black powder to launch.  This significantly reduces ground-level smoke and noise while continuing to provide a highly entertaining show.  

And what if you decide to forgo fireworks altogether?  You don’t have to be a green Grinch!  Here are some fun ideas to keep in the spirit of the holiday without all the toxic fumes.

Attend a parade.  I grew up in small town U.S.A., and one of my best kid memories was decorating my bike in festive red, white, and blue streamers for the holiday.  We’d drive them into town, (hey, we lives miles out in the country,) and we would ride around clowns tossing out candy. 

Host a campfire.  It makes for a great party, and everyone knows that (controlled) flames are almost as good as any fireworks.  Just be sure to use untreated wood, get a permit, and be sure the leave the area as you found it.  And make smores!  (Here’s an organic smores recipe to die for.)  

And if the campfire isn’t an option, invest in flying lanterns.    Have you ever seen a lantern lift into the sky?  It is beautiful.  These lanterns are manufactured in Thailand and are biodegradable.  Just be careful if you live in a fire climate, (aka Southern California,) as they may be outlawed.

And finally, want to make a festive noise?  Fill a pie tin with beans, and then top it with another pie tin.  Staple, tape or glue them together.  You can decorate with them with recycled red, white and blue crepe paper.

>> Check out "Three Recipes for the Best Farmer's Market Summer Cocktails" for great summer cocktails!