A sharp increase of atmospheric pollutants was observed during the festivities at the turn of the year 1992. Concentrations of fine particles (PM10) over the first day of the new year were more than 200 mug/m3. During the first hour of 1993, concentrations of 1,000 - 10,000 mug/m3 are estimated in the centres of large cities. Concentrations of heavy metals in this dust were low. Other compounds, such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, did not noticeably increase after the fireworks. The air pollution may have caused acute health effects. Visibility in or near domestic areas, was reduced to several tens of meters. Locally, further visibility reductions, due to fire works, are expected. These extreme concentrations, due to various meteorological conditions, may occur once in a decade.