Fireworks are often used to celebrate holidays and events in the United States, dazzling spectators with huge explosions and light displays. Have you ever thought about how fireworks affect air quality? On Monday, July 4th, 2022, several sites in Alameda County began to set off fireworks at 10 PM. These fireworks resulted in large spikes in fine particulate matter caused by the firework colorants and explosives. Fireworks pollute the local atmosphere, and these elevated levels of PM_2.5 can often be observed following 4th of July and New Year’s celebrations.

The spikes in PM_2.5 were recorded by several BEACO₂N nodes all across the Bay.