"The National Park Service will launch a dazzling 850,000 fireworks in the nation’s capital this year. Scientists are watching for the environmental and public health impacts."

"The National Park Service on Saturday will launch over 850,000 fireworks into the skies of Washington, bathing the capital in patriotic blasts of light for the nation’s 250th birthday.

Then comes the fallout.

Scientists have well documented the soot and heavy metal pollution that can spike severely in the wake of pyrotechnic displays, and the world-record-setting number of fireworks lined up for July 4 will mean an equally large jump in pollution, experts said. Last year, according to the National Park Service, Washington’s display set off just 7,000 fireworks. Multiplying that by 120 could also deposit into the Potomac River water pollutants like perchlorates and heavy metals, the effects of which on humans and the environment are still not well understood by scientists.

“I wish I could have got a team in D.C. to do all this stuff,” said Terry Gordon, a semi-retired research professor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine."

Alex Guillén, Miranda Willson, and Ariel Wittenberg report for E&E News July 1, 2026. [2]