In recent days, air quality in Hanoi has been continuously at an alarming level, with many times recording PM2.5 fine dust levels exceeding the recommended threshold.
In reality, at many construction sites in Dong Anh commune (Hanoi), it is not difficult to see images of workers working on the site in cloudy air conditions, dust from vehicles and thick dirt on clothes.
Sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhan - a cleaning and hygiene worker at the construction site (Dong Anh commune, Hanoi) - shared: "I am here every day for about 5 hours, some days working in the morning shift, some days working in the afternoon shift. My job is to clean up trash and collect scrap so as not to affect the project. Every day when I have to deal with dust and smoke, my health has also decreased significantly.
Ms. Nhan also said that she often experiences symptoms such as prolonged cough, spicy eyes, and shortness of breath, especially on days when the pollution index increases.
After being exposed to PM2.5 fine dust from nature, workers also had to inhale smoke and dust from machinery and cement at the construction site.
Faced with that situation, Ms. Le Mai Phung - a worker at the construction site (Dong Anh, Hanoi) - proactively bought a specialized mask that could filter fine dust, windshields, and gloves to minimize negative impacts from the working environment.
"The air is getting more and more polluted, we workers have to remind each other to wear many layers of masks, wear long-sleeved clothes, and use gloves and protective glasses when necessary to limit the impact on our health", Ms. Mai Phung shared.
Associate Professor, Dr. Phan Thu Phuong - Director of the Respiratory Center of Bach Mai Hospital - said: ''Air pollution can lead to prolonged shortness of breath, causing inflammation of the respiratory tract, quickly penetrating the coordination, more seriously causing outbreaks of accretion in patients with underlying diseases''.
The doctor also recommends that people, especially those who have to work outdoors, should regularly proactively improve their health with a reasonable lifestyle, adequate diet, and exercise to increase resistance, especially during times of changing weather and declining air quality.
