Fireworks and air quality

Read the recent publication in SN Applied Science.
June 27, 2022
A photo of fireworks over the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mississippi River in Minneapolis
Photo of fireworks over the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis by Mac H.

Fireworks are a quintessential part of a 4th of July celebration, but they produce a short-lived spike in air pollution. Dr. Andrés González, a recent postdoc in the department, studied the air quality of Minneapolis before, during, and after a fireworks display. He found that fireworks impact particle concentrations more so than gaseous pollutants, and the signal was distinct from other sources of pollution like traffic. Read the recent publication in SN Applied Science.