Why You Should Always Close Your Windows During Fireworks
Love them or hate them, fireworks have been a staple of the American Fourth of July holiday since 1777 . And while displays have become more elaborate since then, the basic composition of fireworks — gunpowder and chemicals placed in a casing with a wick attached — hasn’t changed much in the last 245 years. Unfortunately, no puffs of smoke are visible after the fireworks have fizzled out.
As you can imagine, the pollutants in this smoke are not good for air quality. And if you live near a fireworks site, you’re probably in the path of pollution. Here’s what you need to know about how fireworks can affect indoor air quality and why you might want to close your windows on the evening of July 4th.
Do fireworks pollute the air?
When we think about the safety of fireworks, it’s usually about preventing injuries and fires. But the impact of holiday explosions on air quality is also a concern. This is because when ignited, fireworks release gaseous sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, as well as hazardous trace elements such as aluminum, manganese, and cadmium. In addition, there are particulate matter (PM) whose exposure can affect our respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Do fireworks affect indoor air quality?
Of course, it depends on your proximity to the fireworks and the direction of the wind that evening, but yes: at least two studies have measured abnormally high PM concentrations during and after fireworks.
In the most recent study, published in Science of the Total Environment in July 2021, researchers measured PM concentrations inside buildings near public and private fireworks and noted that the air reached unhealthy levels “almost immediately” and could linger for some time. watch.
How to protect the air quality in your home during fireworks
Keep in mind that air pollution from fireworks is a combination of smoke and particulate matter from chemical reactions, and both can affect your indoor air quality, the authors of a 2021 study note. Here are a few ways to keep bad air out of your living space:
- Close your windows so that polluted fireworks do not enter your home.
- Clean or replace your window air conditioner’s air filter so it can do its job.
- Run a separate air purifier if you have one.
- Build your own air purifier by attaching oven filters to a box fan .