Assessment of noise pollution of fireworks during Christmas and New Year in the city of Buenos Aires: comparison with a different management strategy applied to the city of Santiago de Chile

Abstract

Fireworks are widely celebrated worldwide but have raised environmental concerns due to pollutant emissions. This has prompted evolving legislation in many countries, necessitating scientific evidence for policy development. Existing literature mainly focuses on characterizing individual fireworks and quantifying noise variations between festive and non-festive periods. However, no such studies have been conducted in Argentina. This study aims to characterize noise levels generated by fireworks during the 2020 Christmas and New Year celebrations in Buenos Aires. Nine measurement systems were used, obtaining acoustic descriptors reflecting noise levels during these events. Results were compared with typical ambient noise levels in the city and those during the New Year's fireworks display in Santiago de Chile, where public access to individual fireworks is restricted. Findings indicate significant noise level increases during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, supported by the L01 percentile acoustic parameter, more effective in characterizing impulsive events than Equivalent continuous sound pressure level LeqA. Comparing results with Santiago de Chile, noise values in Argentina remained similar within a 1.1 km proximity to the fireworks show, whereas beyond that distance, Chilean residents experienced lower noise levels.