The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day Holiday
Fireworks are often used in celebrations and are a known transient source of extreme particulate air pollution, and the particles produced by fireworks are known to contain potentially harmful heavy metals. This study investigated ambient particulate metal concentrations associated with heavy firewo...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Danielle Rocco Esther Morales Tyler Deflin Jason Truong Jaebin Ju Daniel B. Curtis |
| author_facet | Danielle Rocco Esther Morales Tyler Deflin Jason Truong Jaebin Ju Daniel B. Curtis |
| author_sort | Danielle Rocco |
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| description | Fireworks are often used in celebrations and are a known transient source of extreme particulate air pollution, and the particles produced by fireworks are known to contain potentially harmful heavy metals. This study investigated ambient particulate metal concentrations associated with heavy firework use during the United States Independence Day holiday in July 2020 and July 2021 in Fullerton, California, located within the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. For this study, barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and strontium (Sr) were quantified, with Ba, Cu, and Sr being known tracers for fireworks and Cr and Pb being potentially harmful. Total suspended particulates (TSP) were collected with filters and then extracted and analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Hourly ambient particulate concentrations at a nearby monitoring station exceeded 500 μg m<sup>−3</sup> and 300 μg m<sup>−3</sup> in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Greater concentrations of overall particulate matter and ambient metal concentrations were observed during 2020 when compared to 2021, consistent with studies in the literature that have shown increased firework use in the area, likely due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place in 2020. In 2021, the Ba, Cu, and Sr concentrations peaked overnight on 4–5 July as expected, but the Cr and Pb concentrations peaked in the afternoon on July 5. In 2020, the peak concentrations of Cr and Pb were 510 ± 40 ng m<sup>−3</sup> and 710 ± 30 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively, while 4900 ± 200 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, 3860 ± 40 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, and 1810 ± 30 ng m<sup>−3</sup> were observed for Ba, Cu, and Sr, respectively, among the highest ever observed to our knowledge. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d82dc07befa48f1a8a9cf3819ce231a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d82dc07befa48f1a8a9cf3819ce231a2025-01-24T13:21:42ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-12-011611710.3390/atmos16010017The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day HolidayDanielle Rocco0Esther Morales1Tyler Deflin2Jason Truong3Jaebin Ju4Daniel B. Curtis5Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834, USAIndependent Researcher, Fullerton, CA 92831, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834, USAFireworks are often used in celebrations and are a known transient source of extreme particulate air pollution, and the particles produced by fireworks are known to contain potentially harmful heavy metals. This study investigated ambient particulate metal concentrations associated with heavy firework use during the United States Independence Day holiday in July 2020 and July 2021 in Fullerton, California, located within the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. For this study, barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and strontium (Sr) were quantified, with Ba, Cu, and Sr being known tracers for fireworks and Cr and Pb being potentially harmful. Total suspended particulates (TSP) were collected with filters and then extracted and analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Hourly ambient particulate concentrations at a nearby monitoring station exceeded 500 μg m<sup>−3</sup> and 300 μg m<sup>−3</sup> in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Greater concentrations of overall particulate matter and ambient metal concentrations were observed during 2020 when compared to 2021, consistent with studies in the literature that have shown increased firework use in the area, likely due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place in 2020. In 2021, the Ba, Cu, and Sr concentrations peaked overnight on 4–5 July as expected, but the Cr and Pb concentrations peaked in the afternoon on July 5. In 2020, the peak concentrations of Cr and Pb were 510 ± 40 ng m<sup>−3</sup> and 710 ± 30 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively, while 4900 ± 200 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, 3860 ± 40 ng m<sup>−3</sup>, and 1810 ± 30 ng m<sup>−3</sup> were observed for Ba, Cu, and Sr, respectively, among the highest ever observed to our knowledge.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/17pyrotechnicsgraphite-furnace atomic absorption spectroscopyheavy metalsaerosolair quality |
| spellingShingle | Danielle Rocco Esther Morales Tyler Deflin Jason Truong Jaebin Ju Daniel B. Curtis The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day Holiday Atmosphere pyrotechnics graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy heavy metals aerosol air quality |
| title | The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day Holiday |
| title_full | The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day Holiday |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day Holiday |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day Holiday |
| title_short | The Impact of Fireworks on Selected Ambient Particulate Metal Concentrations Associated with the Independence Day Holiday |
| title_sort | impact of fireworks on selected ambient particulate metal concentrations associated with the independence day holiday |
| topic | pyrotechnics graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy heavy metals aerosol air quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/17 |
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