Fireworks increased air pollution in Des Moines around July 4. (Creative Commons photo via Pxhere.com)
Fireworks in Des Moines sent small-particle pollution to levels more than three times the federal standards on July 4, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported.
Muscatine and Davenport also had health-threatening levels of fireworks-related smoke on the holiday, DNR added.
It took a vigorous and pyrotechnic celebration of the nation’s birthday to log the state’s first violations of national ambient air standards this year.
As the bottle-rocket blasts continued, monitors at Indian Hills Junior High School in Clive and at the Polk County Health Department in Des Moines recorded violations July 5.
The high levels may have caused respiratory problems for residents, particularly those with lung illnesses, DNR said in a news release.
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