What Is Impacting the Air Quality?
The air quality index measures the amount of fine particulate pollution in the air. These particles are 2.5 micrometers or smaller, and can be distributed into the atmosphere by wildfires, industrial processes, power plants and other sources of pollution, according to . These tiny particles can cause health risks for people in at-risk groups. Warm temperatures can also impact air quality, according to the Centers for Disease Control. D.C. is still under a heat advisory, with the National Weather Service predicting heat index values (or the “feels-like temperature”) between 105 and 109 degrees until Sunday evening. Although the air quality is often poor after fireworks displays, it has improved quickly after past displays, Capital Weather reported on Sunday.
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Key Background
Washington, D.C.’s annual Fourth of July fireworks were delayed this year, originally scheduled to go on at 11 p.m. after being pushed back to accommodate a headlining speech from President Donald Trump. The event was delayed even later on Saturday—Trump ended up taking the stage around 11 p.m., the New York Times reported, speaking for about 35 minutes before the show. The fireworks didn’t begin until about midnight. The Trump administration was aware of concerns the display might cause “very unhealthy” levels of air pollution, according to internal National Park Service documents reviewed by the Washington Post last week.
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