Fireworks have long been seen as an important part of celebrations. The basic structure of fireworks, that is, gunpowder and chemicals being put in a box and lit with a wick, did not change much from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the smoke left after the fireworks displays did not change either. As you can imagine, the pollutants in this smoke are not very good for air quality.
It’s no surprise that injuries and fires are the first things that come to mind when we think about fireworks safety. But the impact of these explosives on air quality also poses a safety concern. In addition to the small amounts of aluminum, manganese and cadmium that accompany the sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases they release into the air, lit fireworks also cause particles (PM) that can affect our respiratory and cardiovascular systems to enter the air.
At this point, the importance of how close you are to the demonstration comes into play. Although it depends on the direction and strength of the wind during the show, at least two studies show that the air becomes quite harmful to human health after fireworks displays.
In the most recent study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment in July 2021, researchers measured PM concentrations inside buildings near both public and private fireworks displays and found that it “almost instantaneously” reached unhealthy levels and remained that way for hours.
As the authors of the 2021 study noted, smoke and PM from the chemical reaction can have a devastating effect on indoor air quality in your home. That’s why it is recommended to close the windows during fireworks, clean or replace your air filter if you have one, run a separate air cleaner if you have one, or create your own cleaner by attaching a filter to a fan.
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