Gerhard Fiedler connectionbrazil.com> writes: > > Sergey Dryga wrote: > > > Looking at the page I became utterly confused. It is either (1) I got > > chemistry seriously wrong, or (2) person who wrote the "facts" on this > > page got it wrong. > > > It is sometimes funny, and sometimes scarry when people who have no idea > > what they are talking about get on the bandwagon and try to "protect" > > everybody. > > I'm not really good at chemistry (I could research the issues but I'm not > /that/ interested), but I can't get rid of the nagging feeling that the > "facts" presented in the messages in this thread trying to discredit that > page (whatever its credits may be) are not much better presented or better > researched or are carried by a much better idea of the real facts than the > criticized page. > > IMO the most efficient way to criticize lack of facts or wrong facts is to > present the missing or the correct facts. Anything else just feels odd. And > that doesn't seem to have happened so far... > > Gerhard > OK, I was trying to be funny about it, but maybe it is a time to be serious. I do not have time to do serious research of all compounds listed on the page, so I will go from memory. BTW, I believe I am qualified to do that, I have MS in BioOrganic Chemistry and PhD in Molecular Biology and have spent last 20 yr in chemical and biological labs. Lead Nitrate/Dioxide/Chloride - oxidizer Lead Chloride is not an oxidizer (fact) Lithium blazing reds slightly toxic In this case, it is slightly toxic, but its compunds are used as drugs (fact). Additional use is for thermonuclear weapons (fact), so let's prohibit it completely! Copper compounds blues dioxin pollution While I acknowledge that copper can be used as catalyst to make dioxin compounds, I am pretty sure it is not the case during firework. Fireworks usually include inorganic chemistry at high temperatures which are not good to make dioxins (speculation, not fact). Aluminum brilliant whites contact dermatitis Aluminum oxide (AKA alum) is widely used as carrier for vaccines, anybody who has received vaccines in their life has received Al2O3 injection (fact). Ammonium Perchlorate propellant can contaminate ground & surface waters, can disrupt thyroid functions If one spreads enough of it over ground and surface water it will be toxic, but during fireworks it is burned away. Byporducts are dihidrogen oxide (AKA water), and oxides of nitrogen and chlorine. These are not nice, but relative amount of emmision due to firework is negligent compared to coal- fires electric stations or cars (speculation, not a fact). Potassium Nitrate in black powder toxic dusts, carcinogenic sulfur-coal compounds Potassium nitrate itself does not contain sulfur or carbon (coal)(fact). A mix of KNO3 with C and S is (was) used as black powder (fact). KNO3 was also used as a fertilizer (fact), I believe NH4NO3 is more widely used today. In general, fireworks do produce contaminating byproducts, but htis page is pure fear-mongering. There are many more sources of pollution that are not as nice to look at and produce greater pollution because of greater use. BTW, life itself produces pollution (fact). We have garbage pick up truck come every week and it is full all the time! And this does not include the stuff that flooooows out of houses! Sergey -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist