General (17)
Susana Barrios
From:Stephanie Mercadante <burglin.stephanie@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 5:
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] On Behalf of Tom Felder, District 1, Councilmember Ryan Balius
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
For public comment on April 07, 2026:
Councilmembers,
We are aware that Disney made changes in 2004, replacing traditional gunpowder launches with
compressed-air systems.
Yes, that reduced noise.
Yes, it reduced visible smoke.
But it did not eliminate pollution from firework fallout.
And as mentioned earlier, the colors you see in fireworks come from metal-based compounds,
including:
Red fireworks have Strontium which can accumulate in bone tissue and cause respiratory
irritation
Blue fireworks have Copper which can form toxic byproducts, lung irritation and inflammation
and is associated with metal fume fever type symptoms
White fireworks have aluminum, magnesium, and titanium which generates large amounts of
fine particulate matter, embeds in lung tissue and can cause long term neurological concerns
Green fireworks have Barium which is a toxic heavy metal, affects heart rhythm, muscle function
and can impact the nervous system.
When fireworks detonate, these materials are converted into fine particulate matter—specifically
PM2.5 and smaller particles can enter the bloodstream.
Air quality studies consistently show that fireworks events cause sharp spikes in PM2.5 levels, often
many times above normal background conditions.
But the issue doesn’t stop in the air.
These particles undergo atmospheric deposition—meaning they settle out of the air over time onto:
Homes
Soil
Vegetation
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Streets and water systems
From there, contaminants can move through runoff and infiltration pathways, contributing
to groundwater recharge systems.
So this is not just an air issue.
It is a multi-pathway exposure issue:
inhalation,
surface deposition,
and potential water contamination.
Residents don’t just see it.
They are exposed to it—through multiple routes.
It disperses.
It settles.
And it accumulates over time.
So let’s be clear:
The 2004 change reduced one part of the problem.
It did not eliminate particulate emissions, metal deposition, or long-term exposure pathways.
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