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HONOLULU - The Hawai’i Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch will monitor Hawai’i’s air quality during the New Year celebrations and compare it with national ambient air quality standards. The heavy use of fireworks during the annual holiday celebration can significantly increase the amount of particulates in the air, especially on O’ahu, health officials said.  Firework smoke consists primarily of particulate matter that can aggravate health conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. If you suffer from one of these lung conditions you may want to take certain precautionary measures. The Department of Health offers the following guidelines:  On New Year’s Eve, stay indoors and close your windows and doors.  Check that your air conditioner or air purifier is working properly, change filters if necessary.