Air pollution due to fireworks a serious issue in Utah


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SALT LAKE CITY — July 4th and July 24th: two holidays in Utah where fireworks are shot off. Whether it's a professional show or in backyards, Utahns are polluting the air.

Fireworks produce a lot of smoke and ash, spewing tiny particulates known as PM 2.5 into the air. Unhealthy, especially for kids and those with respiratory illnesses.

"There are rules of thumb: If you can see the smoke and smell the smoke, you're probably getting some impact from that,” said Bryce Bird, air quality director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

Utah Department of Environmental Quality monitors the air 365 days a year. But on the evenings of July 4th and 24th, the air quality monitors show big changes.

“We see very high concentrations during those few hours in the evening when after the sun goes down, that's when the fireworks are most visible,” Bird said. “We see that very pronounced spike from maybe 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on those holidays."

The good news is the pollution levels quickly return to normal as the winds disperse the smoke.

So what's worse, the big, exploding shells or the small stuff that the neighbor kids buy from the local fireworks stand?

Turns out, it's the small stuff.

“And then on the neighborhood level when we get tens, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people enjoying these fireworks,” Bird said. “The particles produced from the combustion do concentrate in those areas. So we see some elevated levels that are above the levels that are considered safe under the health standards."

Starting Friday, Utahns can start lighting fireworks. It's a great time of year, but comes with a cost — especially with the air that we breathe. (KSL TV)
Starting Friday, Utahns can start lighting fireworks. It's a great time of year, but comes with a cost — especially with the air that we breathe. (KSL TV)

On average the 24-hour standard for PM 2.5 is about 35 micrograms per cubic meter. Last year in the Salt Lake Valley, the levels jumped to 157 micrograms when the fireworks were in use.

Staying indoors will limit your exposure to these particulates — a good idea if you have chronic breathing issues. But if you are outside watching the fireworks, know which way the wind is blowing.

“Don't park grandma in the lawn chair in the path of the smoke as well as the children. Just keep that in mind," Bird said.

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Keith McCord

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