America’s big birthday blowout in the capital could come with a side of smog. The National Park Service plans to ignite more than 850,000 fireworks over Washington, DC, for the nation’s 250th birthday—over 100 times last year’s tally of 7,000—with internal NPS documents warning the show could push air pollution on and around the National Mall into hazardous territory. A draft air-quality analysis reviewed by Politico suggests people “avoid prolonged exposure” and even consider N95 masks outside, but there are no public plans for federal agencies to recommend masking, and the EPA says monitoring the fireworks’ impacts isn’t its job. The massive display compounds already poor air quality as the area endures a heat wave that will serve to slow normal air-clearing, notes CNN.
Scientists say past research gives reason for caution. A New York study in 2023 found that July Fourth fireworks sent fine-particle pollution from typical levels of under 15 micrograms per cubic meter to over 1,000, and as high as 3,000—far above federal standards. Pollution usually clears in about a day, but drought conditions could keep contaminants like perchlorates and heavy metals lingering in the Potomac, threatening fish, amphibians, and nesting ospreys. Health groups advise vulnerable people to watch from a distance, stay indoors with windows shut and air filters running, or use N95s. “With more fireworks comes more health risks,” says the American Lung Association’s Laura Kate Bender.
