Commission points to noise and contamination risks of fireworks

The Church's Environment Commission said today that the people needed to be informed of the risks associated with excessive noise and air and soil pollution caused by fireworks.

In a detailed report the commission also called for tougher law enforcement to control excesses, saying Malta is paying too high a price for fireworks.

The commission said after a two-year study that the number of deaths caused by fireworks was among the highest worldwide.

A study of 14 feasts between 2006-2007 showed that an acceptable noise level of 110 dBA was exceeded several times, although the average was between 100 and 110 dBa.

Noise levels were also often excessive during ground firework displays.

"Young children, pregnant women and people in poor health clearly need to be careful not to expose themselves to these risks. There is a need for these people to be informed about these risks," the commission said.

Another risk was that caused by building development close to fireworks factories, and there was need for buffer zones to be respected, the commission said.

The commission said its studies showed that the letting off of fireworks caused soil contamination, mostly by lead, in an area up to 50 metres around the firing spot, although such contamination was not as high as caused by other sources such as pesticides, cars, and hunting.

Studies also showed an increase in the summer of fine dust (PM10) caused by a concentration of toxic metals used in fireworks. This contamination was carried by the air well beyond the villages where the feasts were celebrated.

"It is of concern that the population is being exposed for a long period of the year to metals which appear to come from fireworks" the commission said.

It called for better technical training for those who manufacture fireworks, better control on the importers of chemicals used in fireworks, and greater respect by the enthusiasts to other people. Furthermore, in view of the risks associated with it, the allocation of potassium chlorate to fireworks factories needed to be halved and eventually replaced by potassium perchlorate, which was less dangerous.

The regulations needed to control not only the power of the fireworks but also their quantity and noise produced.

The people also needed to be informed of the risks of excessive noise and the contamination of land and air.

In its studies the commission said it also found that feasts generated 520 tonnes of solid waste in Malta (excluding Gozo), which only amounted to 0.21 percent of domestic waste. They also used up to 400,000kWh of electricity, some 0.06 percent of domestic consumption, and the environmental impact was not so big. Nonetheless, every effort should be made to save electricity.

The commission said feasts were important within the social and cultural fabric but everyone needed to shoulder his responsibilities. The civil authorities should show a firmer commitment to update and enforce regulations, the media should promote national debate and the local and ecclesiastical authorities needed to ensure that the feasts created unity, rather than division.

It also urged parish priests, where possible, to stop excesses in the letting off of fireworks.