The use of Pyrotechnic products causes a high air pollution in Algiers
Thursday, January 8th, 2015
The axcessive use of Pyrotechnic products, especially during the Mawlid Ennabawi, has a heavy and dangerous impact on public health and air quality.
Indeed, within the routine measurment of « black carbone » in the Atmospheric Observatory of the Renewable Energies Development Center (CDER) in Bouzareah, anormal concentration higher than 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air was recorded during the night of the 2nd and 3rd January, 2015. Recorded datas are shown in the figure above on the daytime and nightime variation of black carbone concentration. The measure of this pollutant, lead by Mr. Merabet Hamza, researcher in the CDER, is realized using a tip apparatus « Aethalometer ». This equipment is specific in the measure of the atmospheric sprays and more particularly in the monitoring of the concentrations of black carbon each minute. The level reached druing the celebration of the Mawlid Ennabawi have so far exceeded not only the usual resorded level during the year, but also the current standards.
Black barcone associated to particules of a diameter less than 2.5 micrometer is known for its bad effects on human health ; infections of the respiratory tract, respiratory problems and lung cancer. Our measurements, which concerns only the black carbone, indicates also that the level of the other pollutants would be significant during this celebration. It should noticed that the concentrations recorded in the Observatory of Bouzareah, although pretty high, are far less than ones recorded in popular districts of Algiers and big cities of Algeria.
The manufacturing, the import and the sale of firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic products must be forbiden in our country as it is mentionned in the decree 63-291.
Prof. Noureddine Yassaa, Director of the EPST CDER

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