Fireworks and Air Quality: A Three-Year Study in Shandong

Spring Festival celebrations in China are known for their vibrant fireworks displays. However, these displays come with a cost to air quality. In Shandong Province, fireworks have significantly impacted air quality over the past three years. The study looked at how fireworks affected the air during the Spring Festivals of 2022, 2023, and 2024. First, let"s talk about the numbers. The concentration of PM₂. ₅, which is tiny particles in the air that can harm health, spiked during the Spring Festival in 2024. It reached a whopping 423 micrograms per cubic meter. This was a massive increase compared to the previous two years. In 2022, the concentration was much lower. In 2023, it was higher than 2022, but still not as high as 2024. Fireworks were responsible for nearly half of the PM₂. ₅ in the air on average days in 2024. This is a clear sign that fireworks play a big role in air pollution during these celebrations. During the times when fireworks were set off the most in 2024, some changes in the air were noted. Levels of certain chemicals like NO 3 - and NH 4 + went down. But, chemicals linked to fireworks, like K + , Cl - , SO 4 2- , and Mg 2+ , went up. This shows that fireworks were a major source of pollution during these times. The study also looked at where the pollution was coming from. During the heaviest firework times, 59% of the PM₂. ₅ came from fireworks. This was much more than from cars or other sources. Usually, cars and secondary sources are big polluters. But during the firework times, fireworks took the lead. So, what can be done? The study suggests a few things. First, the government needs to enforce policies that control firework use. Second, they should encourage people to use eco-friendly alternatives. This could help reduce the impact of fireworks on air quality. It"s a big challenge, but it"s important for the health of people in Shandong Province. The study also highlights the need for more research. While it gives a good picture of the situation in Shandong, more data from other places could help. This could lead to better policies and a cleaner environment for everyone.