A Systematic Review of Fireworks Noise and Its Exceedance of WHO Outdoor Limits: Global Trends and Implications

Abstract

Firework noise, generated in short bursts, poses health risks. The objective of the research was to compare the sound pressure levels generated by fireworks with the World Health Organization's (WHO) noise guidelines. The methodology employed was the 2020 PRISMA statement. The bibliographic review was conducted using digital databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and EBSCO. To determine the annual growth of scientific production, a digital tool was utilized, and data analysis was performed with Microsoft Office Excel and VOS viewer. The annual growth of scientific production between 1975 and 2022 was 6.47%. The geographical distribution of studies by year and country was concentrated in 2013 and in India, with 3 and 13 publications, respectively. The festival where the most sound pressure levels were measured was Diwali, with 8 studies. The author with the highest number of citations was Overall K., with 161 citations, and the keyword with the highest number of occurrences was "fireworks" (18 instances). It is concluded that 100% (19) of the studies exceeded the WHO's desirable upper limit value for outdoor noise. This finding is concerning because it directly affects people's health. Consequently, governments should implement strategies to minimize the negative impacts generated by fireworks.