Fireworks haze sparks spikes in air pollution

PROVO — As beautiful as they are, the rockets' red glare in the sky and the sparkling fountains in the driveway create smoke — lots of it.

And that smoke is bad to breathe, especially for asthmatics, babies and people with a history of respiratory problems.

Does that mean fireworks ought to be banned altogether?

Cheryl Heyring, planning manager for the state division of air quality, says that would be too drastic of a step.

"I think somewhere in between (banning them and ignoring the danger)," Heyring said, after reading the reports from the Lindon and Ogden air monitors that showed definite spikes in air pollution during the ignition of local fireworks.

"The message that ought to get out there is, be aware of the exposure and the danger and use common sense. This is a pollution-causing device. Fireworks put out particulate and pollution. We pick it up on the monitors," she said. "I looked at the numbers and, yes, we see some impacts, but it averaged out within the 24-hour period."

Heying said the division gets a lot more concerned when pollution levels are affected over a length of time such as during the Cascade Springs forest fire last summer.

She suggests people with known sensitivities avoid standing close to fireworks displays or putting themselves at risk by attending large-scale fireworks events.

"Most people with those kinds of health problems know that already," she said.

Bob Dalley, manager of the agency's air monitoring division, said the Lindon monitor showed half a dozen spikes in PM10 pollution from Friday evening through Monday, some as high as 938 micrograms per cubic meter — way above the standard of 150 micrograms per cubic meter.

However, Dalley said none of the 24-hour averages were above the particulate health standard.

"These were not violations," he said. "But when the smoke was densest, there may have been some impact on individuals with known sensitivity to pollutants."

Dr. Clark Bishop, a respiratory therapist at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, said the backyard fireworks are probably more dangerous than something like a Stadium of Fire show.

"The main thing is, clean air is good and dirty air is bad," Clark said. "In theory, fireworks have the potential of being a real problem, but in actual practice, they don't seem to have a lot of effect."

Clark said he has more asthmatic patients react poorly to the smoke from a campfire than to fireworks.

"I can't remember ever seeing an asthma patient exacerbation to fireworks, but I have seen them from campfires," he said.

Clark said the smoke from fireworks obviously contains particulate matter, but there are also a number of noxious chemicals used to create color and special effects. Those nitrogens and sulfurs can form nitric and sulfuric acids when they combine with oxygen and those are very hard on the lungs.

"When that's inhaled, it creates a terrible problem," he said.

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