The Characteristics of Air Pollutants during Two Distinct Episodes of Fireworks Burning in a Valley City of North China

BACKGROUND: The elevation and dissipation of pollutants after the ignition of fireworks in different functional areas of a valley city were investigated. METHODS: The Air Quality Index (AQI) as well as inter-day and intra-day concentrations of various air pollutants (PM(10), PM(2.5), SO(2), NO(2), CO, O(3)) were measured during two episodes that took place during Chinese New Year festivities. RESULTS: For the special terrain of Jinan, the mean concentrations of pollutants increased sharply within 2–4 h of the firework displays, and concentrations were 4–6 times higher than the usual levels. It took 2–3 d for the pollutants to dissipate to background levels. Compared to Preliminary Eve (more fireworks are ignited on New Year’s Eve, but the amounts of other human activities are also lesser), the primary pollutants PM(2.5), PM(10), and CO reached higher concentrations on New Year’s Eve, and the highest concentrations of these pollutants were detected in living quarters. All areas suffered from serious pollution problems on New Year’s Eve (rural = urban for PM(10), but rural > urban for PM(2.5)). However, SO(2) and NO(2) levels were 20%–60% lower in living quarters and industrial areas compared to the levels in these same areas on Preliminary Eve. In contrast to the other pollutants, O(3) concentrations fell instead of rising with the firework displays. CONCLUSION: Interactions between firework displays and other human activities caused different change trends of pollutants. PM(2.5) and PM(10) were the main pollutants, and the rural living quarter had some of the highest pollution levels.