Experts warn fireworks pose an underestimated threat to global public health

Fireworks pose an underestimated danger to public health and require stronger regulations to prevent avoidable injuries, Medical Xpress reported on November 4, 2026. Experts writing in The BMJ warned that sustained public education campaigns are also required to reduce harm. [1]

Indu Subramanian and colleagues explained that fireworks-related injuries represent a major cause of vision and limb loss around the world. These injuries largely affect already marginalized communities. In England, almost 4,500 people attended hospital for fireworks injuries, according to Medical Xpress. [1]

Fireworks were originally invented in China between 600 and 900 AD by combining charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate to create gunpowder inside bamboo casings. The visual displays rely on chemical payloads including metal salts. [3]

The authors in The BMJ emphasized that stronger regulatory measures and continuous public messaging are necessary to curb these devastating injuries, Medical Xpress reported. [1]