Air pollution in Reykjavík broke all records on New Year’s Eve at the same time as a new record was broken in the sale of fireworks.
It seemed as if there was a thick fog in the capital on New Year’s Eve, made up of smoke and powder, after all the fireworks had been blown up. The weather was calm. Fréttabladid reports.
Lúdvík E. Gústafsson, manager of the Pollution Control Division of the Reykjavík City Environmental Health and Protection Office, said it is not clear how grave the pollution on New Year’s Eve was, but it surpassed the health protection limit by far.
Gústafsson said it is doubtful whether it is acceptable for rescue services to be funded by the sale of fireworks, which are dangerous to some people’s health. But, he said, the fireworks are entertaining.
Air pollution caused by fireworks can be dangerous to people who have sensitive respiratory organs.
Fireworks blown up on New Year’s Eve are mainly sold by rescue services in Iceland and the profits are used for running them.
