Fireworks debate in China: preserve tradition or reduce air pollution?

China is a country divided over whether to continue the tradition of setting off firecrackers and fireworks to celebrate the Chinese New Year. While many Chinese citizens feel the tradition should be preserved, others would be in support of a ban if such a move were to improve air quality. According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, heavy pollution was reported in 92 Chinese cities and 47, including Beijing, reported severe pollution as people celebrated the start of the Spring Festival this year. Figures released by the Ministry of Public Security support the likely trend that tackling air pollution is winning out over preserving tradition: in 2015, a total of 138 cities banned fireworks and a further 536 put limits to time and places where fireworks could be used. This year, Shanghai implemented a strict fireworks ban on 1st January. 

Heavy air pollution has been reported in 139 cities in China while people celebrated the lunar new year with firecrackers and fireworks, the environment watchdog said Monday.

From 7:00 p.m. Sunday to 6:00 a.m. Monday, 92 cities were monitored as being heavy polluted in air and another 47 cities, including Beijing and Tianjin, reported severe pollution, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said.

In 338 major cities monitored by the ministry, 67 cities were clean and 271 cities were worse than the national standard.

PM2.5, a micro particulate matter that causes hazardous smog, was the major pollutant. The average PM2.5 density in the 338 cities reached 148 micrograms per cubic meter, a 27.6 percent rise year on year, it said.

Since Sunday evening, the ministry said, hourly PM2.5 density in the cities began to rise and reached a peak at sometime between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. on Monday, when people set off firecrackers and fireworks to celebrate the lunar new year.