The impact of fireworks burning on air quality and their health effects in China during Spring Festivals of 2015-2022

Ambient monitoring online data of six criteria air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3 and CO) in 31 provincial capital cities in China during Spring Festivals from 2015 to 2022 were analyzed to estimate contributions of fireworks burning to PM2.5 and their health effects. It shows that daily average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO during Spring Festivals of 2015-2022 dropped remarkably by 36.5%, 48.9%, 70.6%, 29.7%, and 36.8%, respectively, while 8h O3 concentrations increased significantly by 21.6%. Average contributions of fireworks burning to PM2.5 during intensive fireworks burning periods from 2015 to 2022 were 44.8 & PLUSMN; 14.7 %, 56.2 & PLUSMN; 16.9 %, 50.1 & PLUSMN; 16.2 %, 46.0 & PLUSMN; 16.8 %, 44.3 & PLUSMN; 14.9 %, 33.2 & PLUSMN; 20.7 %, 44.5 & PLUSMN; 15.5 % and 35.2 & PLUSMN; 23.3 %, respectively. The total excess health risk (ERtotal) based on Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) and World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines, and health-risk based air quality index values (HAQI) were estimated. Annual average values of ERtotal based on the WHO standard were 1.5-4.7 times as many as those estimated by CAAQS standards and annual average values of HAQI based on CAAQS Grade I standard were higher than those based on CAAQS Grade II standard. Main health risk factors were different under different air quality standards. It is necessary to further improve air quality to protect human health during Spring Festivals in China in the future.