The aftereffects of the party in Washington were still felt on Sunday.Image: keystone
The anniversary celebrations in the USA are showing consequences. In Washington, the population was warned about poor air quality.
Jul 6, 2026, 12:47 amJul 6, 2026, 12:47 am
The USA celebrated the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence over the weekend. With a speech by US President Donald Trump, a folk festival and huge fireworks. According to Trump, the biggest fireworks display in history.
The aftereffects of the party in Washington were still felt on Sunday. The authorities in the US capital declared a “red alert”.
The reason: fine dust pollution from the fireworks particles. Forbes magazine spoke of “unhealthy air”. The poor air quality values were exacerbated by the high temperatures and the ozone that formed.
According to the rules of the US health authorities, outdoor sports activities and “long-term, intensive activities” should be avoided at the “red” alert level.
There were also incidents elsewhere in the United States. There was a fire on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York because of the fireworks.
Fireworks rely on special particles, which experts call effect chemicals. Magnesium produces whitish glitter rain, red sparks require substances such as strontium or calcium and green copper compounds. What remains is a high level of fine dust pollution, and the concentrations of nitrogen oxides also increase.
According to Forbes, health experts pointed out possible health risks before planning. But the US government ignored this. The “red alert” was not only in the center of Washington, but also in neighboring communities in the US state of Maryland.