Study: Fireworks appear to have no impact on Lake George
By DON LEHMAN, dlehman@poststar.com
Fireworks shows appear to be having no measurable effects on Lake George's water quality, a study has found.
The Lake George Association performed the study last summer, after concerns were raised about whether chemicals from the fireworks, which are shot over the lake, were contaminating the water.
The village of Lake George hosts weekly fireworks shows during the summer, and some of the chemicals used in fireworks are known to be toxic.
Stressing that the results of the study are "preliminary," the association said it did not find elevated levels of perchlorate, antimony or barium, the three main chemicals in question. The association took water samples before and after fireworks shows and also took soil samples from around the lake for comparison.
"Our samples did not find higher amounts of these pollutants in response to fireworks events held in Lake George Village throughout the summer," the report states.
But the study also indicated studies in other bodies of water "were able to measure smaller amounts of perchlorate than we were able to in this study.
"There are also many other contaminants associated with fireworks that we did not measure," the report states.
Emily DeBolt, the LGA's director of education, said the agency was happy to see no evidence of spikes in chemicals after the shows. She said the issue could be studied again in the future.
"I'm glad we didn't find anything, and we've got a baseline of data for the future," she said.
Lake George Mayor Robert Blais said the village had asked for a study of the issue in light of concerns, and because, in addition to the village's shows, private fireworks shows have increased around the lake.
He said he was glad to see the study's results and said the village would have halted or moved the shows had it been shown the fireworks were causing contamination.
"We were concerned about it," he said.
He said Alonzo Fireworks of Mechanicville, the company the village contracts with to put on the shows, showed village officials a study of water in a lake on the Disneyworld complex in Florida over which frequent fireworks shows are held, and that study found no contamination issues.
He said the village has asked for the Lake George Park Commission to create a registration system for fireworks shows, since private shows seem to be proliferating. He said many people mistakenly think the private shows are being put on by the village.
"I do think some sort of registration process does make sense," DeBolt said.
The village's fireworks shows have proven to be "the number one promotion we've ever undertaken," Blais said.
Thursday nights in the summer, when fireworks shows take place, have become busier for merchants than Saturday nights, he said.
http://www.poststar.com/news/local/article_a2fc75f6-fbdb-11de-94e8-001cc4c002e0.html
Fireworks shows appear to be having no measurable effects on Lake George's water quality, a study has found.
The Lake George Association performed the study last summer, after concerns were raised about whether chemicals from the fireworks, which are shot over the lake, were contaminating the water.
The village of Lake George hosts weekly fireworks shows during the summer, and some of the chemicals used in fireworks are known to be toxic.
Stressing that the results of the study are "preliminary," the association said it did not find elevated levels of perchlorate, antimony or barium, the three main chemicals in question. The association took water samples before and after fireworks shows and also took soil samples from around the lake for comparison.
"Our samples did not find higher amounts of these pollutants in response to fireworks events held in Lake George Village throughout the summer," the report states.
But the study also indicated studies in other bodies of water "were able to measure smaller amounts of perchlorate than we were able to in this study.
"There are also many other contaminants associated with fireworks that we did not measure," the report states.
Emily DeBolt, the LGA's director of education, said the agency was happy to see no evidence of spikes in chemicals after the shows. She said the issue could be studied again in the future.
"I'm glad we didn't find anything, and we've got a baseline of data for the future," she said.
Lake George Mayor Robert Blais said the village had asked for a study of the issue in light of concerns, and because, in addition to the village's shows, private fireworks shows have increased around the lake.
He said he was glad to see the study's results and said the village would have halted or moved the shows had it been shown the fireworks were causing contamination.
"We were concerned about it," he said.
He said Alonzo Fireworks of Mechanicville, the company the village contracts with to put on the shows, showed village officials a study of water in a lake on the Disneyworld complex in Florida over which frequent fireworks shows are held, and that study found no contamination issues.
He said the village has asked for the Lake George Park Commission to create a registration system for fireworks shows, since private shows seem to be proliferating. He said many people mistakenly think the private shows are being put on by the village.
"I do think some sort of registration process does make sense," DeBolt said.
The village's fireworks shows have proven to be "the number one promotion we've ever undertaken," Blais said.
Thursday nights in the summer, when fireworks shows take place, have become busier for merchants than Saturday nights, he said.
http://www.poststar.com/news/local/article_a2fc75f6-fbdb-11de-94e8-001cc4c002e0.html
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