Air pollution alarm in Vietnam
Hanoi is at risk of falling into the group of most air polluted cities in the world, on par with Beijing (China).
This is one of the contents of a letter recently sent by the World Health Organization (WHO) to its staff in Hanoi. The letter warns: Currently, the air quality in Hanoi is at an alarming level. The current air quality situation in Hanoi will continue in the coming time; it is even possible that it will reach the threshold of the most polluted cities in the world such as Delhi (India), Beijing (China) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).
On 78/90 days, equivalent to 86.6% of the days in the first quarter of 2017, the concentration of dust in the air in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City exceeded the standards of the World Health Organization.
Continuously exceed the threshold
WHO’s recommendations are based on data from the environmental monitoring station at the US Embassy in Hanoi. Since 2016, these monitoring data have been monitored and analyzed by the Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID) under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA).
Ho Chi Minh City often faces dry fog due to air pollution. |
Increase tree planting to reduce dust and toxic gases We must increase tree planting to help reduce dust, reduce toxic gases, and increase oxygen levels. This is not a comprehensive solution. The important thing is to cut down on the main sources of emissions from vehicles, construction sites, and spread out the population to the suburbs to reduce population concentration in a small area... in order to improve air quality. Dr. Hoang Duong Tung |
The analysis results show that: In the first quarter of 2017, in Hanoi, there were 37 days when the concentration of ultra-fine dust (PM2.5, a type of floating dust with a size smaller than 2.5 micrometers, so it can easily penetrate the lungs - NV) was higher than the level of 50 µg/m3 - Vietnam's national standard. Compared to the level of 25 µg/m3 recommended by WHO, the number of days when Hanoi's air exceeded the standard was 78/90 days. Notably, there were days during this period when the concentration of PM2.5 exceeded the WHO standard by 10 times.
Not only Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is at risk of increasing air pollution. In the first quarter of 2017, there were 6 days exceeding the national standards, corresponding to 78 days exceeding the WHO standards; the average AQI (air quality index) level of the quarter increased from 91.2 to 100.8; corresponding to the average PM2.5 dust concentration increasing from 30.72 to 35.8 µg/m3. In the third quarter of 2017, there was 1 day exceeding the national standards and 39 days exceeding the WHO standards.
If we analyze the data by hour, there were 87 hours with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the Vietnamese standard and 810 hours for the WHO standard. In Ho Chi Minh City, the air quality in the third quarter of 2017 did not change much compared to the same period last year. The number of hours in the unhealthy group was 13.6% compared to 14.8% in the same period in 2016.
Regarding the results of WHO, the leader of the Environmental Protection Department, Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TN-MT) of Hanoi, said: The monitoring station located at the US Embassy is a sensor station and the US AQI calculation method is different and much higher than the calculation method according to Vietnam's instructions.
“Data from sensor stations is not as accurate and has insufficient parameters as data from fixed stations, and is only for research, survey of environmental change trends, and monitoring modelling, and cannot represent the general air quality of Hanoi. Therefore, this data is not objective and does not accurately reflect the current state of air quality in Hanoi,” according to the above leader.
In mid-July 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced the national environmental status 2016 with the theme “Urban Environment”. Information shows that in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, environmental pollution is a prominent issue and is becoming a pressure on development. Dust continues to remain at high levels. Many toxic gases such as NO2, O3, CO show signs of exceeding standards. NO2 concentrations have tended to increase in recent years, especially during rush hours at traffic intersections in major urban areas in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. CO concentrations also increase during rush hours at traffic axes and around industrial parks in urban areas. The results of air pollution monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City at 20 locations show that air quality pollution is mainly caused by suspended dust from traffic activities. More than 72% of dust data monitored at 12 traffic locations exceeds Vietnam standards. |
However, this person also admitted that the total dust and PM10 dust (floating dust with a size of less than 10 micrometers - NV) index at some locations and some times in Hanoi exceeded Vietnam's standards by 1.5 - 2 times. Hanoi's air quality has shown signs of deterioration, especially in inner-city areas, main traffic routes and construction sites.
Mr. Le Tuan Dinh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, also admitted: During rush hour, on some belt roads and in areas with construction works, the concentration of total dust, PM10 dust and PM2.5 dust exceeds the permissible standards.
Dust and toxic gas exceed standards
The latest analysis shows that in the third quarter of 2017, air quality in Hanoi has improved significantly. The number of hours in the healthy group reached 77%, much higher than 42% in the third quarter of 2016. The number of hours in the unhealthy group in 2017 was 22%, a sharp decrease compared to the rate of 58% in the same period in 2016.
Looking at the above figures, it can be seen that air quality in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is improving. However, according to experts, this is not entirely true because the reason for the decrease in the number of days with pollution exceeding the standard is due to the impact of the weather. Specifically, storms and rains make the air "cleansed" significantly. In 2016, Vietnam was affected by the El Nino phenomenon, so there was little rain, while in 2017 the amount and area of rain was much higher.
Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, former Deputy Director General of the General Department of Environment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), commented: Air quality in Hanoi only reaches good levels in certain locations and on rainy days, after rain. Meanwhile, the number of days with average and poor air quality accounts for the highest proportion, about 50 - 60%. The number of days with bad and hazardous air quality does not account for a high proportion but has increased rapidly in recent years.
“At the Lagos Conference in Switzerland in 2016, Vietnam ranked 10th in air pollution. Air pollution in Hanoi has been a problem for many years, but so far, there has been no sign of improvement, or at least a reduction in the level. The air in Hanoi is not as bad as Beijing, but pollution indexes are increasing,” said Dr. Tung.
In fact, since April 10, Ho Chi Minh City has published environmental information on electronic boards at major traffic intersections. During this period, the city also announced environmental indicators. Accordingly, there are up to 20 areas with indicators exceeding Vietnam Standards. Areas with heavy air and noise pollution include: An Suong intersection, Dien Bien Phu roundabout, Hang Xanh, Go Vap six-way intersection, etc.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has just announced the national environmental status from 2012 - 2016. Accordingly, the environment in most urban areas is heavily polluted, affecting the health of tens of millions of people every day.
Air pollution in Hanoi. |
November 23,recorded on some roads and places with signs about air quality. In many places, the signs turned red, indicating that the air quality there was at a level dangerous to human health. Specifically, in the Dien Bien Phu roundabout area, dust pollution and noise both exceeded Vietnam standards.
According to TNO
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