摘要：Many pyrotechnic devices contain barium nitrate which is used as an oxidizer and colouring
agent primarily for green-coloured fireworks. Similarly, strontium nitrate is used for
red-coloured pyrotechnic effects. Due to their chemical similarities to radium, barium and
strontium ores can accumulate radium, causing a remarkable activity in these minerals.
Radium in such contaminated raw materials can be processed together with the barium or
strontium, unless extensive purification of the ores was undertaken. For example, the
utilization of 'radiobarite' for the production of pyrotechnic ingredients can therefore cause
atmospheric pollution with radium aerosols when the firework is displayed, resulting
in negative health effects upon inhalation of these aerosols. In this study, we
investigated the occurrence of gamma-photon-emitting radionuclides in several
pyrotechnic devices. The highest specific activities were due to K-40 (up to 20 Bq g−1, average
value 14 Bq g−1). Radium-226 activities were in the range of 16–260 mBq g−1 (average
value 81 mBq g−1). Since no uranium was found in any of the samples, indeed, a slight enrichment of Ra-226
in coloured pyrotechnics can be observed. Radioactive impurities stemming from the
Th-232 decay chain were found in many samples as well. In the course of novel
developments aiming at the 'greening' of pyrotechnics, the potential radioactive hazard
should be considered as well.
