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D.C. Air Quality Was Among the Worst In the World Twice This Month. What Can the District Do to Improve It?

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News , a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here . Nearly everyone in D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood turned their eyes toward the Washington Monument, waiting for the record-breaking fireworks show that capped off the America 250 Independence Day celebration. As the sky lit up, one could hear a chorus of “wows” from viewers gathered at rooftop parties and in the streets.

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Scoop News DeskWashington · Published Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 2:39 PM UTCUpdated Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 5:35 PM UTC

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But in the hours following the show, the nation’s capital briefly recorded the worst air quality of any major city in the world, according to AirNow , an Environmental Protection Agency website. Conditions were so bad last week, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a code purple alert , urging people to consider rescheduling outdoor events or moving activities indoors. “All DC Gov outdoor activities cancelled; outdoor pools and spray parks are closed,” said D.C.

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Version 2updated
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 5:16 PM UTC
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News , a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here . Nearly everyone in D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood turned their eyes toward the Washington Monument, waiting for the record-breaking fireworks show that capped off the America 250 Independence Day celebration. As the sky lit up, one could hear a chorus of “wows” from viewers gathered at rooftop parties and in the streets.
Version 3unpublished
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 5:35 PM UTC
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