Washington Post throws cold water on DC fireworks with report of ‘hazardous air pollution’
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Fireworks planned for President Donald Trump's July Fourth celebration on the National Mall are expected to cause hazardous air pollution around the Mall and "very unhealthy" conditions across central Washington, D.C., according to internal National Park Service documents reviewed by The Washington Post. The show is scheduled for Saturday night as part of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
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George Thurston, a professor of medicine and population health at New York University, told the Post that people attending or living near the display should reduce their exposure to the smoke.
"People should use the precautionary principle, which is to minimize exposures," Thurston said. "An N95 mask would be a good idea."
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The fireworks show is part of the Salute of America 250 Celebration & Fireworks, which the official Freedom 250 event page says will feature 850,000 shells launched from 10 sites, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, eight Potomac River barges and West Potomac Park. Organizers list the fireworks show as starting at 10:30 p.m. and lasting about 40 minutes.
The White House promoted the event as a centerpiece of the nation's anniversary celebration, saying more than a million people will gather on the National Mall for Trump's keynote remarks, entertainment and "the largest pyrotechnics display in the history of the world."
The internal modeling reviewed by the Post projected that, in the most likely scenario, the show would generate between 600 and 1,200 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter around the Mall. A worst-case scenario would exceed 2,000 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the report.
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The draft analysis said people near the Mall should "avoid prolonged exposure."
PM2.5 refers to fine inhalable particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says those particles can get deep into the lungs and some may enter the bloodstream, posing the greatest health risk among particulate matter categories.
The Post reported that downtown Washington, Arlington and Capitol Hill were projected to see "very unhealthy" conditions, with elevated pollution levels lingering for three to six hours after the fireworks show. Another Park Service document recommended N95 masks outdoors and staying inside as much as possible during and after the display, according to the report.
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The documents also raised questions about who could be affected by the smoke. The fireworks are planned near the Potomac River and the National Mall, not far from Southeast Washington, an area that includes predominantly Black and lower-income neighborhoods, The Post reported.
Thurston told The Post that respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including asthma, are more prevalent among lower-income and minority populations.
"I definitely think that should not be ignored," he said.
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D.C. officials have separately warned residents and visitors to prepare for a large holiday crowd and several days of extreme heat. Mayor Muriel Bowser's office said Monday that hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors are expected for events, including the Salute to America Celebration and Fireworks, parades, World Cup celebrations and Washington Nationals games.
The mayor’s office said the National Mall event has been designated a National Special Security Event and advised attendees to arrive early, use public transportation and expect security magnetometers to open at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.