2.G(a) - Fireworks

In this sub-category of 2.G - Other product use, Germany reports the following emissions resulting from fireworks:

The sold amounts of fireworks have increased strongly from 1990 to 1995. From 1995 to 1997 the emissions were relatively high but decreased from 1997 to 2000.

Since then, the emissions have remained on rather constant level showing only small fluctuations. As the public sale of fireworks were temporarily forbidden in 2020 and 2021 due to corona restrictions, emission estimates for these two years are well below previous years.

In 2022, the restricitions were suspended and the consumed fireworks reached a normal level again. The sales based on the returned fireworks of the previous year. It was not until next year that the import quota normalized.

In 2023, 32,916 t of fireworks were consumed in Germany.

In 2019, measurements were made by a Finnish laboratory for the VPI – Verband der pyrotechnischen Industrie (Association of the pyrotechnical industry) of dust emissions during the burning of fire works. The experiments were made in a container in which the whole fireworks were burned.

In 2020, VPI and UBA had an intensive information exchange, in which the VPI presented the results of these measurements. The different emission factors were discussed and finally, based on the expert judgement, it was decided which EFs shall be used for the reporting.

In a next step, activity data were updated to allow for more differentiation.

More detailed information about the revised methodology for the calculation of fine particulate emissions from firework is published in the professional journal “Gefahrstoffe” by Dauert et al. (2002) ¹⁾.

Furthermore, the other EFs have been discussed resulting in some changes to these values. The results are presented below.

In February 2021, the VPI published an article in the paper “Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics” provoiding a description of the experiment together with the measurement results (Keller & Schragen, 2021) ²⁾.

For the calculation of the activity data the following formula is used:

The production, disposal, return from the year before and return of the year data are yearly updated by the VPI.

Import and export: For import and export, statistical data from the Federal Statistical Office are applied (DESTATIS, 2024) ³⁾.

Return: Amount of unsold fireworks returned to producer

Disposal: Amount of disposed unsold fireworks damaged during transport from producer to seller

The emission factors of SO₂, CO, NO_x, Cu, Pb and Zn are the Default-EFs derived from the EMEP/EEA Guidebook 2023 ⁴⁾.

Table 1: Default Tier 2 emission factors applied, in g/t product

The emission factors for PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and TSP are measured values from the VPI.

Table 2: Country-specific PM emission factors applied, in g/t product

The EMEP/EEA GB 2023 offers default-EFs for the pollutants As, Hg, Ni and Cr ⁵⁾. However, the VPI has proofed that these emissions do not occur in Germany, further proofing that no Pb is emitted from firewoks after 2003.

See the following explanations:

As and Hg: As confirmed by the members of the VPI, these two heavy metals went out of use in 1980. Since about 1980 the explosives administrative regulation (Sprengverwaltungsvorschrift) is regulating which substances are allowed to be used and As and Hg are forbidden to be used. In 2003 the DIN EN 14035:2003 came into force, which did forbid these substances. The actual follow-up norm DIN EN 15947-5 was published in February 2016 and describes the German implementation of the harmonized and in the official journal of the European Union 2017, C 149/2 published norm EN 15947:2015.

Pb: As the DIN EN 14035:2003 entered into force as from 2003, which did forbid this substance, there are no such emissions from 2003 onwards. The actual follow-up norm DIN EN 15947-5 was published in February 2016 and describes the German implementation of the harmonized and in the official journal of the European Union 2017, C 149/2 published norm EN 15947:2015.

Cd: The members of the VPI were asked and did explain, that Cd was never used, because it has no pyrotechnical effect. Since 2013 Cd is on the candidates list of the substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), published according article 59, para. 10 of the REACH-ordinance.

Ni: The members of the VPI informed that Ni was never used, because it has no pyrotechnical effect. It is part of the harmonized assessment according the ordinance (EG) Nr. 1272/2008 (CLP). Belonging to this, it is assessed as cancerogen category 2.

Cr: According the information from the members of the VPI Cr is not anymore used since the beginning of the 1980. Since 2012 (REACH Annex XIV (Ordinance (EU) Nr. 125/2012) Cr was implemented in the REACH Annex XIV. So from that year a permission duty is necessary. So far, none of the fireworks producers has requested for a permission.

The uncertainty for the AD is given as 10% and for the EF as 20%.

⁶⁾.