The Church’s Environment Commission, Kummissjoni Interdjocesana Ambjent (KA), said in a statement issued today, “that while village feasts should be celebrated properly, the celebrations had to be done with respect to human lives.”

The Commission said that despite several scientific studies and documents issued from 2006 on the environmental and health impact on festas in Malta, the rates of accidents, fatalities and injuries in the area continued to grow.

The statement said, that the Commission felt obliged to continue to contribute to this public discussion about the fireworks and how it could affect public health and the environment, and included a summary of some information from 2008 onward.

According to the report of the Commission of Inquiry (2011), it seems that:

* The rates of accidents, of deaths and injuries caused by the production of fireworks in the islands is significantly higher than those in other places in Europe, a trend which has been increasing over recent years.

* The trend from year to year shows that the increase in accident rates over the last 30 years is not linked to the quality of a chemical or some extraneous factor, but for the stressful work, the level of attention on the workplace and the risks involved in mixing and experimentation.

* Several incidents happened in the same firework factories more than once and that the experience has not always helped to reduce these accidents.

* The month when most of these accidents occur (during the period 1981-2010) was in July. This is the month when most of the actual work involved in making fireworks is over, but since the demand for fireworks remains high, if not increases on the eve of the feast – the production runs until the end. The firework factories often have to increase production in this way due to various reasons, including lack of space to manufacture fireworks in other rooms, the need of income to cover the increasing costs increased by more fireworks sold to other localities and other reasons.

“Studies conducted by the research group at the University of Malta during recent years consistently show that producing and burning a high quantity of fireworks, has a substantial impact on a number of localities during the summer months.

“According to a report published in 2010 the levels of fine dust (PM10) that is contaminated with chemicals such as aluminum, with the barium, copper, strontium and antimony are high during summer in Malta and Gozo. These levels are mainly caused by burning of fireworks during the festive season in summer. The same study showed that the pollution affected the air several kilometres from where the fireworks were burnt. It was still felt well for several weeks (even months) after the festive season ended.

“In Malta, the industry of fireworks uses the ingredient known as potassium perchlorate. It is used as a chemical that provides oxygen (oxidizing agent) during the fireworks. The use of perchlorate is considered less risky than that of potassium chloride (or potassium) because it is more stable and therefore less safe while working in the fire room. In fact, among the suggestions made in recent years to reduce the accident rates are starting to use the perchlorate instead of chloride.

However, the perchlorates are toxic if their levels increase in the environment. Another recently published study showed that perchlorate negatively influences the transport of iodine in thyroid glands. This effect is felt most by pregnant women, prenatal infants, young children and people with low levels of thyroid hormones. Studies on the effects of perchlorate on human health are ongoing especially in the U.S. and there are suspicions that there may be a connection even with thyroid cancer. It is currently being thought of as a possibility exists, especially when man is exposed to high levels of this chemical.”

The KA concluded, “that it was clear that the real price we are paying for this national pastime was too high. There needs to be meaningful reform in the regulations governing this activity. It is not enough to argue that fireworks are important for tourism, for our holidays and the traditional way in which we celebrate feasts in villages and cities. We need to have a willingness and a sense that continue to enforce more controls, more carefully and more wisely. This needs to be done before another casualty of the fireworks industry suffers and not after.”

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