The true cost of the “Light to the Sky.” Why we say no to fireworks
For some, fireworks are a symbol of joy and shared celebration. For others, they are a source of fear, suffering, and real threats to life. Year after year, the true cost of loud pyrotechnic displays is discussed more openly—a cost paid by people, animals, and the environment. We believe that these costs should no longer be accepted.
Animals: fear, panic, and death
For animals—companion, farm, and wild alike—fireworks are not entertainment but a sudden, unexpected stimulus that triggers a life-threat response. This is not a matter of opinion, but of facts confirmed by scientific research.
Radar analyses have shown that during fireworks displays, birds take off en masse into chaotic nocturnal flights, lose orientation, and die as a result of collisions with infrastructure or from exhaustion (Shamoun-Baranes et al., 2011). Loud, sudden noises are a powerful source of stress for wild mammals, causing panic, disorientation, and abrupt escape responses that require enormous energy expenditure (Wright et al., 2007).
Companion animals also react with severe stress. Studies indicate that fireworks are such a strong fear-inducing stimulus for dogs that they trigger panic, escape attempts, and even self-injurious behavior (Gähwiler et al., 2020). In some animals, these symptoms persist for many days after the explosions (Riemer, 2019).
We see the consequences of the noise
Organizations working in the field—including our partners who run animal sanctuaries, shelters, rehabilitation centers, and local intervention services—report a clear increase in dramatic incidents involving animals linked to the use of fireworks.
There are numerous cases of pets fleeing and going missing, as well as injuries, vehicle collisions, and deaths caused by panic. In the case of wild animals, we observe deaths of birds and mammals resulting from acoustic shock and disorientation.
Farm animals are also severely affected by stress; we record neurological and cardiological disorders, as well as reproductive consequences such as fetal loss and lactation disturbances.
A momentary effect, long-term damage
Fireworks cause short-term but intense air pollution with PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter and heavy metals (Pirker et al., 2022). These substances do not disappear once the display ends—they settle into soil and water, affecting ecosystems and the health of living organisms (Cao et al., 2018). In addition, pyrotechnic waste generates environmental and financial costs related to cleanup, borne by local governments.
Position on legislative work
In response to ongoing legislative work on draft laws aimed at restricting the use of pyrotechnic products, the Mushika Foundation submitted an official position to the Special Parliamentary Committee on Animal Protection, in connection with the meeting held on January 20, 2026.
In our statement, we point out, among other things, that the negative effects of fireworks on animals, people, and the environment are predictable and well documented, and that their use is neither necessary nor socially neutral.
Open letter to the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP)
The Mushika Foundation, together with 42 other organisations, also signed the open letter to Jurek Owsiak initiated by the Psa Karmela Foundation. In the letter, we call on the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation to take a clear stance against loud fireworks during the nationwide “Light to the Sky” events. We emphasize that fireworks are not a form of medical aid and stand in contradiction to the mission of health protection that WOŚP has pursued for years.
We fully support the activities of WOŚP, and in many cities today “Light to the Sky” takes on a symbolic, silent form. However, because the WOŚP Foundation does not impose a single nationwide format for the event, decisions regarding fireworks are still made by local organizers in some locations. We are working to change this.
Time to change the standard
Opposition to fireworks is not a matter of taste or “oversensitivity.” It is driven by the current state of scientific knowledge about humans, animals, and the environment, as well as by growing social responsibility. Today, we know enough to say clearly: noise is not neutral, and tradition does not justify suffering.
Celebration can look different—through light, music, projections, or drone shows.
Without noise. Without fear. Without victims.
Position of the Mushika Foundation submitted to the Sejm Extraordinary Committee for Animal Protection
Stanowisko Fundacji Mushika przekazane do sejmowej Komisji Nadzwyczajnej do spraw Ochrony Zwierząt
Sources:
Cao, X., Zhang, X., Tong, D. Q., & Chen, W. (2018). Review on physicochemical properties of pollutants released from fireworks: Environmental and health effects and prevention. Environmental Reviews, 26(4), 400–415.
https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2017-0063
Gähwiler, S., Bremhorst, A., Tóth, K., & Riemer, S. (2020). Fear expressions of dogs during New Year fireworks: A video analysis. Scientific Reports, 10, 15541.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72841-7
Pirker, L., Velkavrh, Ž., Osīte, A., & Drinovec, L. (2022). Fireworks—a source of nanoparticles, PM2.5, PM10, and carbonaceous aerosols. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 15(6), 1463–1475.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-021-01142-3
Riemer, S. (2019). Fear of fireworks in dogs: Prevalence, risk factors and behavioural effects. PLOS ONE, 14(6), e0218150.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0218150
Shamoun-Baranes, J., Dokter, A. M., van Gasteren, H., van Loon, E., Leijnse, H., & Bouten, W. (2011). Birds flee en masse from New Year’s Eve fireworks. Behavioral Ecology, 22(6), 1173–1177.
https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article-abstract/22/6/1173/218852
Wright, A. J., Soto, N. A., & Baldwin, A. L. (2007). Anthropogenic noise as a stressor in animals: A multidisciplinary perspective. eScholarship, University of California.
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/46m4q10x