Towards Freedom

This section covers papers related to fireworks and adverse effects on animals.

Owner perceptions and management of the adverse behavioural effects of fireworks on companion animals
[This is a 2019 paper published in New Zealand Veterinary Journal which provides a survey form.]
This anonymous survey will gather information about your animal(s) experiences with fireworksto help the SPCA and the New Zealand Companion Animal Council better understand the impactthat they may have on our animals.

Fear expressions of dogs during New Year fireworks: a video analysis
A high proportion of pet dogs show fear-related behavioural problems, with noise fears being most prevalent. Nonetheless, few studies have objectively evaluated fear expression in this species. Using owner-provided video recordings, we coded behavioural expressions of pet dogs during a real-life firework situation at New Year’s Eve and compared them to behaviour of the same dogs on a different evening without fireworks … in this case firework noises, which are perceived as threatening by many dogs), action tendency (e.g. escape attempts), and a variety of different expressive behaviours, may constitute the best method to infer the likely underlying emotion experienced by nonhuman animals.

A survey of owners' perceptions of fear of fireworks in a sample of dogs and cats in New Zealand
To establish reliable information regarding the behav-ioural responses of dogs and cats to fireworks in New Zealand … Owner-reported increase in fearful response over time for comforted animals may indicate a negative impact on the longer-term psychological welfare of their animal.

Birds flee en mass from New Year's Eve fireworks
Fireworks are an important part of celebrations worldwide, and although humans often find fireworks spectacular, fireworks are probably perceived quite differently by wild animals … A recent event which has attracted a great deal of media attention is the sudden and mass mortality of thousands of red-winged blackbirds that fell out of the sky in Beebe Arkansas on New Year’s Eve 2010 … Additional reports of birds mysteriously falling from the sky canbe found in the media right around New Year’s Eve. Our study is just one example of a clear and large-scale behavioral re-sponse of birds to fireworks, a very specific form of disturbance.

Effects of severe anthropogenic disturbance on the heart rate and body temperature in free-living greylag geese
Anthropogenic disturbances are a major concern for the welfare and conservation of wildlife. We recorded heart rate and body temperature of 20 free-living greylag geese in response to a major regularly re-occurring anthropogenic disturbance-New Year's Eve fireworks. Heart rate and body temperature were significantly higher in the first and second hour of the new year, compared with the same hour on the 31st of December, the average during December and the average during January … To conclude, our results show that New Year's Eve fireworks cause a substantial physiological response, indicative of a stress response in greylag geese, which is costly in terms of energy expenditure.

The Impact of Noise Anxiety on Behavior and Welfare of Horses from UK and US Owner's Perspective.
Noise anxiety is an over-reaction to loud noises commonly detected among pets and can greatly impact on their welfare and on their management. When exposed to noisy events, horses can show intense escape attempts, which may cause severe accidents for the horse and the rider/handler. The aim of the present study was to investigate, through a web survey, UK and US owners' perception of noise anxiety severity in their horses, their management strategies and perceived efficacy.

Humane Protection of Animals Against the Effects of Fireworks Displays
Its subject is the humane protection of animals, expressly declared by the Polish legislator in the provisions of the Animal Protection Act, as regarded in the context of wide access to individual use of fireworks by private persons. The author seeks an answer to the question whether the legislator’s high-sounding declarations expressed in the Animal Protection Act, providing for humane protection of animals in Poland, are reflected in respective national or local regulations which would make it possible for the owners or guardians of animals to protect them against the effects of fireworks, especially against noise.

Effectiveness of treatments for firework fears in dogs
An online questionnaire survey investigated (1) management and (2) treatment methods for firework fears in dogs used by dog owners and their (perceived) effectiveness. A Principal Components Analysis on data from 1,225 respondents revealed four management strategies (i.e., interventions during firework exposure): the principal components are “environmental modification” (e.g., providing a hiding place, keeping windows and blinds closed, and playing music), “feed/play” (providing the dog with chews, play, and food during fireworks in general, as well as contingent on loud bangs), “alternative” (use of calming nutraceuticals, pheromones, herbal products, homeopathic products, Bach flowers, and essential oils), and “interaction” (allowing body contact, petting, and talking to the dog when loud bangs occurred). To explore possible effects of these management methods on fear development, the components were correlated with a score for fear progression. Of the four components, only “feed/play” was statistically associated with an improvement in fear responses to fireworks.

Extra-auditory effects of noise in laboratory animals: the relationship between noise and sleep
Noise has both auditory and extra-auditory effects. Some of the most deleterious extra-auditory effects of noise are those leading to sleep disturbances. These disturbances seem to be related to both endogenous (physical parameters) and exogenous (sex, age) factors of noise. [Understandably, the relationship between noise and sleep deprivation can be extrapolated to humans.]

Anthropogenic noise as a stressor in animals: a multidisciplinary perspective
Consequences of extreme noise exposure are obvious and usually taken into some consideration inthe management of many human activities that affect either human or animal populations. However,the more subtle effects such as masking, annoyance and changes in behavior are often overlooked,especially in animals, because these subtleties can be very difficult to detect … Young animals may be particularly sensitive to stressors for a number of reasons includingthe sensitivity of their still-developing brains. Additionally, short exposure to stressors may result inlong-term consequences.

Effect Of Noise On Performance, Stress, And Behaviour Of Animals
This paper summarises the auditory range and some typical levels of sound that have been recorded for farm animals inside and outside housing, during transport and lairage stay. effects of continuous and sudden noise on animals are also presented in detail. More physiological and behavioural responses have been described as increased hormonal production, increased heart rate, and reduction in production.

How and why environmental noise impacts animals: an integrative, mechanistic review
The scope and magnitude of anthropogenic noise pollution are often much greater than those of natural noise and are predicted to have an array of deleterious effects on wildlife. Recent work on this topic has focused mainly on behavioural responses of animals exposed to noise.

Noise-Related Stress and Marine Mammals: An Introduction
Marine mammals (especially cetaceans) use sound as their primary sen-sory input for social communication, foraging, and other vital life-processes.Background noise has the potential to interfere with these functions by maskingnormal sounds, and at least some noise sources have been linked to behavioral andphysiological responses (with lethal and non-lethal consequences).

Accidental death involving professional fireworks

Deaths and hospitalisation from fireworks injuries

Fireworks and PTSD

July 4 fireworks can trigger PTSD in veterans

Effects of Independence Day fireworks on atmospheric concentrations of fine particulate matter in the United States
Dian J. Seidel, Abigail N. Birnbaum
Previous case studies have documented increases in air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), during and following fireworks displays associated with various holidays and celebrations around the world. But no study to date has explored fireworks effects on air quality over large regions using systematic observations over multiple years to estimate typical regional PM increases…

Air Pollution Due To Fireworks During Diwali In Delhi

Air pollution from fireworks during festival of lights (Deepawali) in Howrah, India - a case study

Effect of Fireworks, Chinese New Year and the COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Pollution and Public Attitudes

An Initiative towards Saving Environment – Clean and Green Fireworks
Fireworks are an environmental disaster. A single firework can involve dozens of separate explosions. A report estimated that after the firework display event, the pollution level of the area was found to be 500 times more than the normal and persisted there for more than a week in form of dust, suspended metal particulates etc.All those pretty colors come from added chemicals, and they leave deadly toxins and harmful gases in the environment. As we know, reds are the product of strontium and lithium; copper burns blue and releases dioxins, which cause cancer; radioactive barium produces sparkly greens. In this paper harms caused by fireworks and possible remedies are discussed.

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