Freedom 250, which organizes events for the anniversary of the independence of the United States, warned of deteriorating air quality and visibility after the large fireworks display in Washington, DC. The show is set for the evening of July 4th, the culmination of the US 250th anniversary celebrations.
As Freedom 250 emphasizes, the spectacle is set to be “the largest fireworks display in history.” A total of 850,000 charges are planned to be launched from 10 sites: from the Mirror Pond area, from eight barges on the Potomac River and from West Potomac Park.
“The Salute to America event will be historic. Before deciding to attend, participants should assess their health status, as air quality will deteriorate and noise levels will be higher than usual,” the organizers emphasize.
At the same time, Freedom 250 clarifies that children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are at “greater risk” and “should not be outside for long periods of time” during the fireworks launch period. Separately, event administrators urge people to follow recommendations for improving air quality, which, by the way, are intended for places near forest fires.
It is suggested to keep windows closed, use air purifiers with HEPA filters, and set up ventilation and air conditioning systems to recirculate indoor air. At the same time, according to the air quality guide, pollution from fireworks falls into the penultimate category – “very unhealthy”.
According to the American Lung Association, fireworks not only emit tiny particles that can irritate the respiratory system and trigger asthma attacks, but also carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, as well as metals including aluminum, manganese and cadmium.
This is confirmed by internal documents of the National Park Service (NPS), which were reviewed by The Washington Post (WP). This year's Independence Day fireworks display will lead to dangerous levels of air pollution due to the production of high levels of fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5, according to the report.
“These fine particles can penetrate deep into the heart and lungs, causing irritation and, in some cases, asthma attacks and other illnesses,” WP said.
In the “expected” or “most likely” scenario, the fireworks display in the National Mall area would result in PM2.5 concentrations of 600 to 1,200 micrograms per cubic meter. In the worst case, this figure will exceed 2,000 micrograms. Even the lower threshold of this amount is a reason to take precautions, George Thurston, a professor of medicine and public health at New York University, told the newspaper.
He added that the worst case scenario would be worse than any other fireworks show. Fireworks contain metals such as copper, which give them their bright colors but become a respiratory hazard when released into the air, a health official said. Therefore, people with respiratory diseases should stay home during fireworks and wait until the wind clears the smoke.
A similar position is shared by Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonologist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In a conversation with the New York Times (NYT), he said that the show will only worsen the situation with air quality, which “already leaves much to be desired.” Separately, the doctor mentioned worsening health consequences due to the “incredible heat” that is predicted for that day. RTVI.US reported how abnormally high temperatures are spreading across the United States.
We add that due to the “extreme volume of the show,” “all participants, especially young children, must wear hearing protection during the event,” organizers emphasize. At the same time, as the NYT writes, loud noise endangers not only people, but also birds.
