Washington briefly became the world’s most polluted major city after a massive Independence Day fireworks show organised as part of the Trump administration’s Freedom 250 celebrations, according to IQAir
data.
The fireworks display was held on July 4 to mark America’s Independence Day. Pyrotecnico, the company hired for the event, had aimed to break the world record by launching around 850,000 fireworks during the 40-minute show.
The event took place during a record-breaking heat wave across parts of the US, affecting traditional July 4 celebrations, including parades, outdoor gatherings and barbecues.
Fireworks Trigger Pollution Spike
The fireworks show, which was delayed by more than an hour due to a thunderstorm, began shortly before midnight. Pollution levels in Washington started rising during local fireworks displays and increased sharply during the main event.
Fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5, reached dangerous levels as smoke spread across parts of the city. These tiny particles can enter deep into the lungs and are linked to short-term health problems as well as long-term diseases.
One monitoring station recorded PM2.5 levels above 200 micrograms per cubic metre, far higher than the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 24-hour limit of 35 micrograms per cubic metre.
Air quality alerts classified as “Code Purple”, meaning the air was very unhealthy for everyone, covered large parts of Washington and nearby areas in Virginia and Maryland.
According to IQAir data, Washington ranked as the world’s most polluted major city between around 3 am and 5 am on July 5. It has since dropped in rankings, with cities including Jakarta, Kinshasa and Addis Ababa among the most polluted.
Record Bid Awaits Review
EPA spokesperson Brigit Hirsch defended the celebrations, saying “fireworks are awesome” and that people had enjoyed the displays across the US capital region.
Scientists said heavy rain helped clear the smoke and improved air quality by Sunday afternoon. Russell Dickerson, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Maryland, said the situation could have been worse without the rainfall.
Pyrotecnico had hoped to break the current record for the largest fireworks display, set in the Philippines in 2016 with about 811,000 fireworks. However, Guinness World Records said it had received an application but had not yet confirmed whether the record was achieved.
(With inputs from AFP)
