MADISON, Wis. -- Fireworks and how they might be affecting the environment and the health of residents is the subject of a new debate in Madison.

The Madison Environmental Justice Organization is asking a city committee to look into whether fireworks are sending chemicals into the soil and water in city parks, particularly Warner Park where the annual Rhythm & Booms celebration is held.

The group's members have concerns about metals in the fireworks, and a chemical called perchlorate, which makes fireworks burn faster, WISC-TV reported. Members cited studies that perchlorate could cause thyroid hormone issues if too much is ingested into the body, and they said they're worried it might be getting into the groundwater supply on the city's north side.

One north side resident said while he enjoys the annual fireworks show, he has wondered about the effects on the environment.

"There's certainly a lot of pollution left over, a lot of cardboard and debris from the fireworks after the show," said resident Mike Barrier. "It's everywhere around the park. If you come here the day after or weeks after, you'll see it. So, I'm sure there's chemicals on there and it can't be good."

The City Committee on the Environment voted on Monday night to ask the city and county's health department staff to look into the issue, and report back in June whether they think Warner Park should be tested before and after the fireworks display, WISC-TV reported.

"We haven't looked into whether or not there's an issue," said John Hausbeck, environmental health services supervisor for the health department. "Obviously, fireworks have been going on for years so it wouldn't be the first thing that we found that has happened for years and we at some point realized it isn't the best thing."

Even Rhythm & Booms organizer Terry Kelly said he'd welcome the testing.

"I really would like Warner Park to be as clean as possible after the fireworks," said Kelly.

However, Kelly also said right now, the fireworks company has informed him there's no alternative to the chemicals.

"I don't think we can completely get away from the chemicals that make up for the fireworks themselves because those chemicals are what create the beautiful colors in the sky," said Kelly. "But certainly we're concerned about minimizing any damage to the environment or the lagoon out there and we want to do that as much as we can."

Kelly said his organization will redouble efforts to clean up debris in the park after the fireworks display, and will continue discussing the issue with the fireworks company.