Environmental effects of New Year’s Eve fireworks
Fireworks work. What is a fascinating experience for one person often has undesirable side effects for the environment. Fireworks regularly cause high concentrations of fine particulate matter, noise and additional waste on New Year’s Eve.
On New Year's Eve, particulate matter levels in many cities rise to the highest levels of the whole year. Depending on weather conditions, the high levels can last from several hours to days.
On 1 January 2021, the particulate matter limit value for the protection of human health was exceeded at two measuring points in Graz and at one measuring point in Linz. Compared to previous years, the particulate matter exposure at New Year’s Eve was therefore low, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Per calendar year, 25 exceedances of this limit value, which is defined in the Austrian Air Pollution Control Act for the long-term protection of human health, are permitted.
Fireworks account for only a fraction of the annual particulate matter emissions, but most of them occur on New Year’s Eve. On average, the fireworks of that night account for less than 0.6% of the annual emissions of PM10 (PM, particulate matter: dust particles with a maximum diameter of 10 micrometres) and PM2.5. Particulate matter enters the human body with the air we breathe. It also settles on soil and water.
Not all good comes from above
The colour effects in fireworks are provided by the addition of metal compounds, in particular aluminium salts (white, silver), lead and copper compounds (blue), strontium (dark red), as well as barium and zinc (green). During the explosion, these metal particles are released and found as components in the fine particulate matter. Chemical analyses carried out by the federal province of Salzburg, which examined fine particulate matter samples from New Year’s Eve 2014/2015, showed partly strongly increased values for aluminium, lead, chromium, copper, strontium and zinc. Certain substances such as arsenic, lead, and mercury may not be present in CE-marked fireworks. However, the increased lead concentrations on New Year’s Eve suggest that non-certified fireworks were also sold.
The remnants of the fireworks, which are not properly disposed of, such as parts of shells and the construction, remain in the environment. This waste can be dangerous for wildlife and farm animals, which sometimes mistake the residues of pyrotechnics for food. In addition, the remaining plastic parts ultimately decompose into micro plastics.
Undesirable risks and side effects
Fireworks are also effective in terms of noise. According to the Austrian Pyrotechnics Safety Act, fireworks for private individuals (categories F1 and F2) must not exceed a sound level of 120 decibels at a distance of one metre (F1) or eight metres (F2). Because the sound pressure increases dramatically with decreasing distance, it is dangerous for the ears if one is too close to the fireworks. At a distance of only two metres, the sound pressure is more than ten times higher than at a distance of eight metres. With illegal bangers, the volume is incalculable. For older people and small children, the noise of bangers is a major stress factor. Wild and domestic animals suffer too because of their good hearing.
For many Austrians, the pyrotechnic New Year’s Eve fun ends in the hospital. According to the Austrian Road Safety Board (as of 2019), every year around 200 people are so seriously injured by the improper use of pyrotechnics that they have to go to the hospital for follow-up treatment after an accident. Approximately 90 percent of these accidents occur in the hours around New Year’s Eve. The most common injuries affect the eyes, ears and hands.
With alternatives into the New Year
Pyrotechnics are not necessary for New Year's fun. The colourful flash light storm can also be achieved with light and laser shows, without noise, particulate matter and garbage. Like this, you can safely slide into the New Year!
