After the fireworks that decorate the night sky, how does air quality change? According to recent research, the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increased up to 32 times following the 2023 Seoul World Fireworks Festival and the Busan Fireworks Festival.
The research team led by Choi Yoon-hyung, a professor in the Department of Health and Environment Convergence Science at Korea University, analyzed the levels of fine dust following large fireworks festivals held in Seoul and Busan in 2023, and published the results in the international academic journal "Science of the Total Environment" on Jan. 30.
Fireworks are not just a simple combustion process. The fuel, which contains chemical substances, burns and emits a significant amount of fine particulate matter and harmful gases. During this process, high temperatures and pressures occur, rapidly spreading harmful substances into the air, which can linger in the atmosphere for hours after the fireworks, adversely affecting air quality.
The Korea University research team analyzed data from the nearest national air quality monitoring station before and after the festival. In the case of the Seoul World Fireworks Festival, the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) increased from 9–12 µg/m³ before the fireworks to 320 µg/m³ immediately after the event, representing an increase of approximately 32 times. It took about 3 hours for the levels to return to pre-festival conditions. A similar pattern was observed during the Busan Fireworks Festival, where PM2.5 levels increased from 13–33 µg/m³ before the event to 241 µg/m³ immediately afterward, an increase of approximately 10 times, and returned to previous levels after about 2 and a half hours.
In particular, the average concentrations analyzed during the two hours immediately following the fireworks were 231 µg/m³ in Seoul and 188 µg/m³ in Busan. This is 12 times and 7 times higher, respectively, than the average levels recorded during the same days and times one week before the festival (Seoul 19 µg/m³, Busan 19 µg/m³).
Fine particulate matter can cause headaches, sore throats, discomfort in the eyes and nose, dizziness, and fatigue, and in severe cases, may lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, posing a significant health risk. The research team noted, "The increase in fine dust levels can affect the large crowds gathered for the festival in the short term, and over a longer period, impact the health of nearby residents," and added, "It is recommended to wear masks while watching fireworks, prefer watching from indoors or at a distance, and nearby residents can benefit from closing their windows."
Professor Choi Yoon-hyung stated, "There is a need to transition to eco-friendly alternative events, such as drone shows or light festivals that do not cause air pollution, instead of large fireworks displays," and emphasized, "The government and local authorities should work together to regularly measure air quality before and after fireworks, and seek technical solutions to purify the polluted air after the festival."
Reference material
Science of the Total Environment (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178640