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Smoke levels on Oahu during the 2012 New Year’s celebration were at the lowest in 12 years, according to the Department of Health.
According to Lisa Young, environmental health specialist with the Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch, smoke levels were the lowest since monitoring began during the 1999-2000 New Year.
The levels correlated with the low number of injuries in the first New Year’s holiday under the new fireworks law on Oahu. Most fireworks are prohibited under the law, including sparklers and fountains, but firecrackers are legal.
Particulate levels were measured at four air monitoring stations on Oahu: in Honolulu, Pearl City, Sand Island and Kapolei. According to the Clean Air Branch, smoke from fireworks consists of fine particulate matter that can get into the lungs and aggravate those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The Honolulu Emergency Services Department had reported two patients were transported to emergency rooms during the period for respiratory problems from smoke.
Honolulu and Sand Island produced the highest levels but still were significantly below previous years, not exceeding 15 micrograms per cubic meter. Smoke levels in Pearl City and Kapolei dropped to 10 micrograms per cubic meter or lower. In 2011, particulate levels measured at 36 in Pearl City and 32 in Kapolei, the highest recorded levels for that year, according to the Clean Air Branch.
Lorraine Leslie, Hawaii director of the American Lung Association in Hawaii, said the organization is pleased with the low particulate levels.
