Expert information
Fireworks and fine dust
Are fireworks really the source of fine dust?
There are many generators of fine dust coming from the industrial, transportation or agricultural sectors. Fireworks also generate a certain amount of fine dust. But the dust generated by the burning of fireworks has fundamentally different characteristics than fine dust from internal combustion engines and furnaces. Fireworks are much less of a problem than fine dust from automobiles and commercial vehicles. They remain in the atmosphere for a shorter period of time and can be promptly broken down and detoxified by the body. This is not possible with fine dusts from soot and abrasion particles.
Fine dust is not relevant for the climate
Greenhouse gases are the main contributors to climate change
The climate crisis has been declared internationally. This is a resolution passed by parliaments or administrations that jointly declare that climate change corresponds to a crisis and that the measures taken so far in a municipality/city are not sufficient to satisfactorily limit CO2 emissions. The issue is thus how to deal with global warming, which can be seen as man-made. As a measure to limit CO2 emissions relevant to global warming, administrations cite, among other things, the renunciation of large fireworks displays and refer to the figures of the German Environmental Aid and the fine dust figures of the Federal Environment Agency. But: Fine dusts are local emissions and not relevant to the climate. Therefore, they cannot be used as a justification for limiting measures under the climate emergency.
- Greenhouse gases - first and foremost carbon dioxide, i.e. CO2 - are a major cause of climate change. Greenhouse gases ensure that the infrared radiation of the sun is absorbed more strongly in the earth's atmosphere. This heats up the earth.
- Below you can see the fine dust values of Germany. It can be deduced that the New Year's Eve fireworks did not have a negative effect on the values. The graph on the left shows the fine dust concentration on 01.01.2019, i.e. on New Year's Eve. The concentration is significantly lower than on the right graph, which shows the fine dust concentration on 24.01.2019.
Studies and results
Particulate matter from fireworks is significantly low - no argument for a climate emergency
Air pollution
Researchers suspect: Fine dust does not always equal danger
Fine dust is one of the greatest health risks for us humans. That’s why strict guideline values and, in some cases, driving bans apply in cities with excessively high levels. Researchers from Switzerland now say, however, that it is not enough just to measure how much fine dust can be found in the air. The composition of the dust is crucial – not all fine dust is the same.