Measurement report: Firework impacts on air quality in Metro Manila, Philippines, during the 2019 New Year revelry

Abstract

Abstract. Fireworks degrade air quality, reduce visibility, alter atmospheric chemistry, and cause short-term adverse health effects. However, there have not been any comprehensive physicochemical and optical measurements of fireworks and their associated impacts in a Southeast Asia megacity, where fireworks are a regular part of the culture. Size-resolved particulate matter (PM) measurements were made before, during, and after New Year 2019 at the Manila Observatory in Quezon City, Philippines, as part of the Cloud, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes Philippines Experiment (CAMP2Ex). A high-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) recorded a substantial increase in backscattered signal associated with high aerosol loading ∼440 m above the surface during the peak of firework activities around 00:00 (local time). This was accompanied by PM2.5 concentrations peaking at 383.9 µg m−3. During the firework event, water-soluble ions and elements, which affect particle formation, growth, and fate, were mostly in the submicrometer diameter range. Total (>0.056 µm) water-soluble bulk particle mass concentrations were enriched by 5.7 times during the fireworks relative to the background (i.e., average of before and after the firework). The water-soluble mass fraction of PM2.5 increased by 18.5 % above that of background values. This corresponded to increased volume fractions of inorganics which increased bulk particle hygroscopicity, kappa (κ), from 0.11 (background) to 0.18 (fireworks). Potassium and non-sea-salt (nss) SO42- contributed the most (70.9 %) to the water-soluble mass, with their mass size distributions shifting from a smaller to a larger submicrometer mode during the firework event. On the other hand, mass size distributions for NO3-, Cl−, and Mg2+ (21.1 % mass contribution) shifted from a supermicrometer mode to a submicrometer mode. Being both uninfluenced by secondary aerosol formation and constituents of firework materials, a subset of species were identified as the best firework tracer species (Cu, Ba, Sr, K+, Al, and Pb). Although these species (excluding K+) only contributed 2.1 % of the total mass concentration of water-soluble ions and elements, they exhibited the highest enrichments (6.1 to 65.2) during the fireworks. Surface microscopy analysis confirmed the presence of potassium/chloride-rich cubic particles along with capsule-shaped particles in firework samples. The results of this study highlight how firework emissions change the physicochemical and optical properties of water-soluble particles (e.g., mass size distribution, composition, hygroscopicity, and aerosol backscatter), which subsequently alters the background aerosol's respirability, influence on surroundings, ability to uptake gases, and viability as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN).

Distinct responses of airborne abundant and rare microbial communities to atmospheric changes associated with Chinese New Year

“…In our study, inorganic pollutants played a more important role than meteorological parameters and VOCs in the distributions of both abundant and rare taxa. This finding suggested the critical position of human activities in affecting the communities of airborne microbes [ 20 ] due to fireworks and other human activities that have been indicated as important drivers in changing air quality [ 45 , 46 ], especially water‐soluble ions and elements [ 47 ].…”

Stubborn aerosol: why particulate mass concentrations do not drop during the wet season in Metro Manila, Philippines

“…We considered if seasonal differences in PM in Metro Manila could arise from emissions that exhibit seasonal cycles. However, seasonal differences in meteorology may be seen as the chief driver of seasonal trends in PM due to the following reasons: (1) sampling was conducted within Metro Manila with the main PM sources including vehicular emissions, industry, cooking, sea salt, and waste processing, [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] which are consistent throughout the year given the tropical urban setting; (2) urban emissions are expected to be consistent throughout the year as Metro Manila has a tropical climate with relatively stable year-round temperatures (primarily between 25-30 C), 35 thus emissions from heating or cooling remain consistent throughout the year; and (3) although the Philippines does receive long-range transport from East Asia and the Maritime Continent, 13,35,40,[56][57][58] Metro Manila itself is largely insulated by mountains and ocean from these sources. Previous work has shown that the long-range transport of PM to the Philippines is naturally transient and PM levels return to normal values aer episodes of long-range transport.…”

“…Metro Manila, Philippines is a rapidly developing megacity lacking strict air quality monitoring and regulation even though there are many PM sources including vehicular, industrial, rework, and cooking emissions as well as secondary formation, based on previous source apportionment work. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Recent size-resolved measurements focusing on source apportionment showed that most of the PM mass in Metro Manila resides within the submicrometer range. 14 Though PM levels (i.e., mass concentrations) are expected to be lower in the wet season (May-October) than the dry season (November-April) due to wet scavenging by precipitation, Kim Oanh et al 20 revealed that PM levels in Metro Manila are remarkably consistent between wet (44 mg m À3 ) and dry (43 mg m À3 ) seasons, later corroborated by Simpas et al 21 Potential contributors towards the seasonally consistent PM include inefficient scavenging, seasonal emissions, and meteorological inuences.…”

“…Metro Manila, Philippines is a rapidly developing megacity lacking strict air quality monitoring and regulation even though there are many PM sources including vehicular, industrial, firework, and cooking emissions as well as secondary formation, based on previous source apportionment work. 12–19 Recent size-resolved measurements focusing on source apportionment showed that most of the PM mass in Metro Manila resides within the submicrometer range. 14 Though PM levels ( i.e.…”

Effects of Fireworks Burning on Air Quality during the Chinese Spring Festival—Evidence from Zhengzhou, China

“…The study also highlighted significant health risks associated with highly concentrated fireworks burning. Scholars analyzed the effect of fireworks burning on air quality and found that fireworks increased the concentration of aerosol, resulting in the deterioration of air quality with elevated concentrations of main pollutants [ 1 , 16 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. By monitoring the changes in particulate matter in Nanning, Li et al [ 31 ] found that fireworks burning was the main source of particulate matter.…”