Washington Post throws cold water on DC fireworks with report of ‘hazardous air pollution’
Fireworks planned for President Donald Trump’s July 4th celebration on the National Mall are expected to cause hazardous air pollution around the Mall and “very unhealthy” conditions in downtown Washington, D.C., according to the National Park Service. documents Reviewed by The Washington Post. The performance is planned for Saturday night as part of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
George Thurston, a professor of medicine and population health at New York University, told the Post that people attending or living near the exhibit should reduce their exposure to smoke.
“People should use the precautionary principle of minimizing exposures,” Thurston said. “N95 mask might be a good idea.”
Internal Park Service documents predicted dangerous air pollution around the National Mall from President Donald Trump’s July 4 fireworks display.
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Fireworks are part of the show Salute to America 250 Celebration & Fireworks, noted on the official Freedom 250 event page, will feature 850,000 projectiles launched from 10 locations, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, eight Potomac River barges and West Potomac Park. Organizers state that the fireworks show will start at 22.30 and will last approximately 40 minutes.
The White House promoted the event as the centerpiece of the national anniversary celebration, saying more than a million people would gather on the National Mall for Trump’s inaugural address, entertainment and “the largest pyrotechnic display in world history.”
Internal modeling reviewed by the Post predicted that, in the most likely scenario, the show would produce 600 to 1,200 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter around the Mall. In the worst-case scenario, it is expected to exceed 2,000 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the report.
According to internal modeling, 850,000 fireworks could leave central Washington, D.C., with “very unhealthy” air for hours after the show.
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The draft analysis said people near the Mall should “avoid prolonged exposure.”
PM2.5 means down to fine respirable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These particles can travel deep into the lungs, and some can enter the bloodstream, posing the greatest health risk among categories of particulate matter, the EPA says.
The Post reported that downtown Washington, Arlington and Capitol Hill were predicted to experience “very unhealthy” conditions with rising pollution levels for three to six hours after the fireworks display. Another Park Service document recommended N95 masks be worn outdoors and indoors as much as possible during and after the screening, according to the report.
Park Service documents recommend N95 masks and limited outdoor exposure as fine particle pollution is expected to increase in downtown D.C.
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The documents also raised questions about who might be affected by the smoke. The fireworks are planned near the Potomac River and the National Mall, not far from Southeast Washington, which is home to predominantly black and low-income neighborhoods, The Post reported.
Respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including asthma, are more common in low-income and minority populations, Thurston told The Post.
“I think this should definitely not be ignored,” he said.
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D.C. officials separately warned residents and visitors to be prepared for large holiday crowds and several days of extreme heat. Hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors are expected to attend events including parades, a Salute to America Celebration and Fireworks, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office said Monday. World Cup celebrations and Washington Nationals games.
The mayor’s office said the National Mall event has been designated as a National Special Security Event and advised attendees to arrive early, use public transportation and wait for security magnetometers to turn on at 1 p.m. Saturday.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Original article source: Washington Post throws cold water on DC fireworks with ‘dangerous air pollution’ report
