Independence day is less than a week away in the US, which means that many people store fireworks to anticipate some celebrations at home. Although setting this pyrotechnic in your own backyard can be encouraging, the researchers warn that it comes with unwanted side effects: risks for public health and safety.
The new study came from the University of California – Irvine, where the researchers saw air quality data from sensors located throughout the California state. Using that information, the team found that the use of home fireworks around 4 July led to a surge in a type of air pollution called fine particles in early July 2019 and 2020.
Note, North California has a more stringent law of the use of fireworks among the people compared to South California. As a result, the researchers can compare the level of air pollution between the two, and found that La County (in South California) has higher particle material during the previous week, from, and after July 4.
Increases in certain things, which have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, the possibility of results from people shooting at bottled rockets and other fireworks at home during the holidays, according to research. This is very problematic because these small material particles can be easily inhaled, where they then pass through the lungs and into the body.
When it comes to fireworks, the type of air pollution they produce can include compounds such as copper, barium, strontium, water-soluble ions, and track redox-active metal, among others. This study shows that shooting fireworks at home causes air pollution to surge, ultimately placing public health at risk when people breathe in particles produced.
