Exposure to firework noise in festivals

Abstract

Exposure to impulsive noise produced by fireworks has a higher level of risk to human health than exposure to continuous noise. Aware of the problems related to this type of exposure, the European Union (EU) published the Directive 2013/29/EU that establishes a maximum sound level of 120 dB(A, imp) at several distances of launching point depending on the type of artefact. The present work aims to investigate the levels of exposure to which the population and workers are exposed when participating in festivals or pilgrimages. This research was done in northern Portugal during summer.Five events were evaluated and parameters such as LAeq, LA10, LA50, LA90 wererecorded. In the measurements, the sound level meter was on during the time the explosions occurred, and in one case that was about 30 minutes. During themeasurements people of all ages, from babies to seniors, as well as professionals such as musicians, police officers, fire-fighters, merchants and others, were seen without adequate protection, exposed to values that exceed the maximum level stated by the EU and in some cases reaching the peak of 137 dB(C), which is a high risk to those exposed. This paper presents the measurements done and the main results found. For example, LAeq values ranged from 87 to 100 dB and the maximum statistical sound levels were104 dB for LA10, 88 dB for LA50 and 79 dB for LA90. The LEX,8h was evaluated for the firework technicians, for the sound and light operators and for the police officers in the events. The limits proposed by the EU Directive 2003/10/EC were exceeded in the case of the police officers and sound and lights operators, and for those responsible for the detonation of fireworks (blasters).