The Sant Joan celebration in Barcelona was characterized, as is customary, by the presence of dozens of bonfires and a large quantity of pyrotechnic material. Images captured near Montjuïc Castle between 9 PM on Tuesday and 3 AM on Wednesday documented the luminosity of the bonfires, firecrackers, and rockets. These visuals also highlight the gradual increase in pollution throughout the night due to the emission of suspended particles that clouded the city's atmosphere.
While rockets and firecrackers illuminated the night with light and color, the associated noise caused nervousness and anxiety in a significant percentage of companion animals, estimated at around 70%. This sonic impact affects not only pets but also the native fauna residing in urban environments and adjacent areas. Unfortunately, the Sant Joan vigil is also associated each year with the loss of numerous urban birds.
To mitigate these effects, the pyrotechnics sector has introduced low-noise options. These products aim to improve coexistence during the vigil and be more considerate of noise-sensitive individuals.
Another negative effect of pyrotechnics is atmospheric pollution. The combustion of firecrackers and rockets releases fine suspended particles, causing Barcelona to record very high hourly values during the vigil. In previous instances, such as in 2017, levels exceeding 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter have been recorded, far above values considered harmful. This year, the vigil's pollution was exacerbated by the presence of Saharan dust and a preventive alert for high particle pollution.
