Posted on 07/04/2008 1:25:03 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
Last summer, it was Chinese-made toys, pet food and meat that caused concern. This July 4th holiday, there are new worries about the overly explosive nature of its fireworks. This week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a report saying it found that nearly half of the shipments they inspected coming from China do not meet Federal safety guidelines. That's especially worrying since, according the American Pyrotechnic Association, 98 percent of fireworks used in backyards and front lawns across America are manufactured in China. NEWSWEEK's Caitlin McDevitt spoke with Scott Wolfson, a chief spokesman for the Commission about its findings and why this Independence Day could be more volatile than in previous years.
In the Commission's test of 400 Chinese shipments, 46 percent of were found to be non-compliant. That seems quite high. What were some common violations?
Wolfson: There are very strict mandatory standards for how much flash powder can be in consumer fireworks. Flash powder is the main ingredient that gives it its explosive nature. We often look for those that are over-packed. There are also standards that deal with stability. The fuse length also has to meet a standard, and there has to be certain labeling.......
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Light fuse.
Run like hell.
Well, of course they're going to be dangerous if you use them in this manner.
LOL.
When I was a kid, we had what was known as the Avenue X Bomb Squad in Brooklyn. It was mostly my cousin and a whole bunch of his friends, who would light off many thousands of dollars of fireworks on this day years ago. Oh man do I miss those days.
They used to close down one part of the avenue to make a huge fire, which they’d throw firecrackers, rockets and M80s/cherry bombs/whole bunch of other stuff into. That’s my closest experience to what war must sound like.
I also used to draw my own T-shirts. Man I miss being a kid.
I'm sure the poor crash test dummy was screaming, "No! NO!" as the CPSC boffins propped him up over the mortar and then set it off, no doubt laughing maniacally.
Don’t light any from Lop Nor Mfg.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I remember when fireworks were allowed or at least condoned on the beach. Walking up the shore on the 4th was also a little like walking through a war zone. Even as a teen I was frightened by all the stuff just shooting around. The dry brush on the hillside always caught fire once or twice each July 4th evening.
Probably produced by nanny government types that constantly warn about the evils of the 4th.
I normally try to avoid Chicom made stuff, but I always made exceptions for fireworks and silk, figuring those indutries were already grandfathered in, and fireworks (bought under the ccounter in CT) were imported from China when nothing else was.
Overpacked? That's what I would call a bonus. More bang for the buck.
Now, if you are one of the morons on YouTube that places a firecracker between his teeth or a skyrocket up his @ss or mortar in his crotch or roman candle down his pants, I can't say I have much pity and only fear your idiot mothers who will react by campaigning to ban fireworks.
You mean like these fine examples of FReeperdom?
A Fourth of July classic . . . .
One of my dogs did this once . . . had so much fun she keeps trying to sneak out of the house to bite another one.
“Well, of course they’re going to be dangerous if you use them in this manner.”
I agree. Shouldn’t the chest be where his head is :) ?
I'm sure the CPSC will not be totally satisfied until all fireworks are tested and proven to be 100% non-flammable.
I think we Americans know how to light a fuse and run like hell.
Illinois only allows smoke bombs and sparklers, but IMHO smoke bombs are in some ways more dangerous than fountains and such because they're more apt to be hand-held. Sometimes things which are only supposed to emit smoke can go off with a bang instead. Bad news for anyone too close.
There are no issues if you buy from well known companies with brand-name products.
Didn’t have any problems with all of my Chinese fireworks yesterday....
Walk firmly and rapidly!
Our stuff all functioned perfectly. The Chinese have always made quality fireworks.
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