Doncaster Council

Fine Particulate Levels During The Guy Fawkes Celebrations

Smoke produced by bonfires contains minute particles. One of the major sources of particles is from the combustion of fuels containing carbon. These particles can cause health problems when they are below 10 microns in size and are referred to as the PM₁₀ fraction. For most people this is unlikely to have any short-term health effects, but some people, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory diseases, may find their symptoms worsen.

As you would expect, on Bonfire Night we see an increase in the amount of PM₁₀ in the air within the Borough. Here at Doncaster Pollution Control Section, it is this air pollutant, amongst others, which is monitored at several locations. As we all know, bonfires give off a lot of smoke, it is this, combined with the fact that it is impossible to control the burning conditions and the temperature that add to the amount of PM₁₀  produced.

The graph below illustrates the changing levels of PM₁₀ over the weekend from midnight on Saturday 3^rd November to midnight on Tuesday 6^th November. The results have been taken from 3 monitoring stations around the Borough. As you can see, PM₁₀  levels rose sharply after dusk on each night, peaking between 9pm and 6am on Saturday 3^rd – Sunday 4^th November and again between 8pm and 11pm on the evenings of the 4^th and 5^th November.

When PM₁₀  pollution levels are High (see our Air Quality page), people who suffer from heart and lung diseases, especially the elderly, may notice considerable effects. Asthmatics will find that their inhaler is likely to reduce these effects. Individuals suffering from asthma should, where possible, avoid exposure to smoke from bonfires.

Whilst levels of air pollution have fallen in recent years there will always be occasions, such as Bonfire Night, when levels will be higher than average. By taking sensible precautions everyone can still enjoy their evening.

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