Linn County Public Health Reminds Residents of Air Quality and Fireworks with Summer Celebrations

Throughout the summer and especially around the Fourth of July holiday, fireworks are a fun and enjoyable activity for many. Linn County residents may see an uptick in the usage of fireworks around their neighborhoods or communities. Even though fireworks are a part of summer fun, it's also important to keep in mind how they may impact our air quality and your health.

"Linn County Public Health recognizes that fireworks are a part of many summer celebrations," said Dr. Pramod Dwivedi, Linn County Public Health Director. "We encourage residents to partake in this kind of fun but do so in a safe way to avoid negative health effects and stay informed with our air quality alerts, in the event one is issued for poor air quality."

When it comes to fireworks, it is important to protect sensitive populations, which includes those with respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma, COPD, emphysema, etc.), the elderly, and children.

During fireworks displays, dense smoke is often common. If you or a loved one are sensitive to the air quality, it is best to view fireworks from a safe distance away from the launch site or minimize your time spent outdoors. Additional precautions all individuals can take when it comes to fireworks includes:

• All individuals should minimize their exposure to fireworks emissions by avoiding areas of dense smoke near the launch areas of fireworks displays.
• If you are someone who has asthma or is sensitive to poor air quality, you should view fireworks from a safe distance to avoid potential health impacts.
• If you are planning to have a fireworks display, consider using "low-smoke" alternatives for fireworks, as these can produce less smoke and toxics.

With the uptick of firework displays around the Fourth of July holiday, the Air Quality branch at Linn County Public Health will continue to monitor air quality levels for ozone and particulate matter. Depending on several factors, such as weather conditions, firework displays may negatively impact our air quality. You can be informed about the air quality within Linn County by signing up online for our air quality alerts. Individuals can also view the Air Quality Index (AQI) and other air quality data online anytime, anywhere at AirNow.gov.