Effect of fireworks burning on air quality under different meteorological conditions

Based on the pollutants(SO2,NO2,PM10 and PM2.5) data and meteorological data from Beijing urban,suburban and background areas during the Spring Festival period of 2006,the effects of fireworks burning on air quality were evaluated after the limited burning.The results show that fireworks burning in the New Year's Eve and in the Lantern Festival makes the particles concentrations increasing rapidly in a short moment.But the effects of fireworks burning on the concentrations of SO2 and NO2 are not significant.The particles concentrations are the highest from 21:00 to 02:00 during the Spring Festival,and the maximum value of PM2.5 concentration is six times higher than the monthly normal average.During the concentrated burning period,six hours' average concentration of PM10 in Beijing urban area is more than 400 μg/m3.During the Lantern Festival,the maximum hourly average concentration of PM2.5 is 718 μg/m3 in Beijing urban area,which is higher about 500 μg/m3 than that in Beijing background area.The meteorological conditions are still the main controlling factors of air quality during the Spring Festival.The higher concentration pollution is mainly related to wind speed,temperature inversion and humidity and so on.After the concentrated burning of the New Year's Eve,the particles concentrations reduce rapidly because of the advantageous meteorological conditions.Thus,it does not cause the lasting pollution.The lasting air pollution during the Lantern Festival is caused by the stable weather,concentrated fireworks burning and the local pollutant emission.