Fatal and near-fatal asthma in children exposed to fireworks

Becker, Jack M.; Iskandrian, Susie; Conkling, John A.

doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)62581-1

Cited by 42 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The concentration of Sr and Ba found in the generated mascletà plume is not constant for each festival day because, as already mentioned, the composition of the released particulate matter depends on specific type of pyrotechnic device used. For example, during the 23rd June mascletà, there were a small contribution to fine fraction from Sr and negligible from Ba, while in the next day Sr and Ba concentrations increased up to 16 It is should be stressed that the average mass concentration of all the reported elements (except S, Cl and K) in the fine fraction during mascletà was about 17 g/m 3 and reached values as high as 34 g/m 3 , to be compared to a value of 0.03 g/m 3 during the background period. In Fig.…”

Section: Elemental Concentration With One-hour Temporal Resolutionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…This interval corresponds to breathable airborne particle fraction and therefore it is expected, taking into account the reported high levels of atmospheric metal, metalloid and other pollutants, that substantial human health effects can be induced by fireworks. Consequently, numerous papers have been published describing the hazardous impact that both long-term and short-term firework events can have on human health [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-time resolution and size-segregated elemental composition in high-intensity pyrotechnic exposures

Crespo

Yubero

Nicolás

et al. 2012

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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h i g h l i g h t sStreaker/Dekati/PIXE are suitable to study high-intensity short-lived firework events. Fireworks related elements showed >80% elemental mass in the submicrometric region. Resuspended soil dust is an important source of atmospheric particles in these shows. a r t i c l e i n f o b s t r a c tTypical of festivals in Eastern Spain, mascletàs are high-intensity pyrotechnic events where thousands of firecrackers are burnt in an intense, rapid episode that generates short-lived heavy aerosol clouds. High temporal resolution and size distribution characterisation of aerosol components were performed to evaluate the effects of the brief (<30 min) and acute exposure on the spectators present. Very high concentrations of firework specific elements, especially in the fine fraction, were reached during mascletàs, with values of about 500 g/m 3 for K and 300 g/m 3 for Cl. Sr, Al, Mg, Ba, Cu, Co, Zn, and Pb concentration increase factors of more than 100 (1000 for Sr and Ba) were observed in the fine fraction with respect to background levels. Crustal origin elements, like Ca, Fe, Si, Ti, also showed an important concentration rise (∼10 times above background levels) but this is due to dust resuspension by pyrotechnic explosions. The crustal components are mainly in the coarse mode (>90% elemental mass), between 2 and 3 m. Most firework related metals are concentrated in the submicrometric region (>80%) with a trimodal size distribution. This may be interesting to epidemiologists given the toxic effects that such fine, metal-rich particles can have on human health.

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Section: Elemental Concentration With One-hour Temporal Resolutionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-time resolution and size-segregated elemental composition in high-intensity pyrotechnic exposures

Crespo

Yubero

Nicolás

et al. 2012

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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“…[8]], especially among vulnerable individuals such as asthmatics [9]. However, demonstrating toxicological responses to the inhalation of fireworks smoke is hampered by a continuing lack of detail about the exact nature of the inorganic chemical * Corresponding author.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of fireworks events on urban background trace metal aerosol concentrations: Is the cocktail worth the show?

Moreno

Querol

Alastuey

et al. 2010

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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We report on the effect of a major firework event on urban background atmospheric PM(2.5) chemistry, using 24-h data collected over 8 weeks at two sites in Girona, Spain. The firework pollution episode (Sant Joan fiesta on 23rd June 2008) measured in city centre parkland increased local background PM(2.5) concentrations as follows: Sr (x86), K (x26), Ba (x11), Co (x9), Pb (x7), Cu (x5), Zn (x4), Bi (x4), Mg (x4), Rb (x4), Sb (x3), P (x3), Ga (x2), Mn (x2), As (x2), Ti (x2) and SO(4)(2-) (x2). Marked increases in these elements were also measured outside the park as the pollution cloud drifted over the city centre, and levels of some metals remained elevated above background for days after the event as a reservoir of metalliferous dust persisted within the urban area. Transient high-PM pollution episodes are a proven health hazard, made worse in the case of firework combustion because many of the elements released are both toxic and finely respirable, and because displays commonly take place in an already polluted urban atmosphere.

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“…Particles from fireworks display have harmful effects on human health, especially on children (Becker et al 2000;Bull et al 2001). According to a study, the fireworks display during the celebration of the US Independence Day (July 4) caused an abrupt increase in the concentrations of PM 10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than or equal to 10 μm), aluminum, and magnesium components in Florida (Carranza et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of ground-level fireworks (13 km long) display on the air quality during the traditional Yanshui Lantern Festival in Taiwan

Chang

Lin

Young

et al. 2010

Environ Monit Assess

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In this study, the concentrations of CO, non-methane hydrocarbons, NO(X), SO(2), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), PM₁₀, and PM₂.₅ were continuously monitored before and after the fireworks display during the traditional Lantern Festival from March 2-7, 2007 in Yanshui Town, Taiwan. Major roads in Yanshui Town were surrounded by fireworks 13 km in length, with the display lasting for 45 min. More than 200 small firecracker towers popped up randomly in town, resulting in exceedingly inhomogeneous air quality until the end of display at 03:00 the next day, March 5. During the fireworks display, the hourly concentration of PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ at Yanshui Primary School reached about 429 and 250 μg m⁻³, respectively, which is 10 times the normal level, and 6 s values even went as high as 1,046 and 842 μg m⁻³, respectively. Similarly, BTEX concentration went up to about five to 10 times its normal value during the fireworks display. As indicated by the distribution of submicron particle sizes, the number of particles with a diameter less than 100 nm increased abruptly during the event period. Metal components with concentrations of more than 10 times higher than the normal value at Yanshui Primary School were Sr, K, Ba, Pb, Al, Mg, and Cu, in sequence. Among water-soluble ions, the content of K( + ), Mg²( + ), and Cl( - ) increased the most, all of which were related to the materials used in the fireworks. The results of this study indicate that fireworks can cause an abrupt increase in the concentration of trace substances in the air within a short period. Although the risks of these trace substances on public health remain to be further assessed, the study results can be utilized in the management of folk events.

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Fatal and near-fatal asthma in children exposed to fireworks

Cited by 42 publications

References 4 publications

High-time resolution and size-segregated elemental composition in high-intensity pyrotechnic exposures

High-time resolution and size-segregated elemental composition in high-intensity pyrotechnic exposures

Effect of fireworks events on urban background trace metal aerosol concentrations: Is the cocktail worth the show?

The impact of ground-level fireworks (13 km long) display on the air quality during the traditional Yanshui Lantern Festival in Taiwan

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