Air pollution in the North
Hanoi continued to be submerged in air pollution on the morning of January 16. According to the IQAir air monitoring system, at 8:00 a.m. on January 16, Hanoi ranked 8th in the list of the most polluted cities in the world by IQAir. With an AQI of 173, the air quality in Hanoi was rated at the red level (unhealthy).
In Hanoi, the measuring station in Thach That district recorded the highest AQI index, reaching 322, in brown, indicating danger.
According to VN Air - an application providing information about air quality on smartphones developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the most polluted area in the country at 8:00 a.m. on January 16 was Thai Nguyen city (Thai Nguyen province), with the AQI index reaching 209, corresponding to purple, meaning the air quality is very bad.
According to the Department of Environmental Pollution Control (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), PM2.5 dust levels in the North often increase from October to March of the following year, especially at night and early morning, before and after cold air waves. As of the end of October 2024, Hanoi has experienced four serious air pollution episodes, mainly concentrated in winter and early spring.
According to Dr. Hoang Duong Tung - Standing member of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, the main reason is that Hanoi has not been able to control pollution sources. He warned that the pollution level here is gradually increasing, seriously affecting people's health, especially the elderly and children.
Health Impact
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai An - Professional Director of An Viet Hospital - emphasized that air pollution not only affects the lungs and respiratory system but also damages many other organs in the body. The cold winter combined with air pollution increases the risk of respiratory diseases, especially in young children and people with weak resistance.
Vulnerable groups include the elderly, pregnant women, children and people in poor health.
Health protection measures
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai An recommends that people wear the right type of mask when going out to reduce inhalation of polluted air and avoid cold air entering the respiratory tract. After returning home, rinse your nose and throat with saline to clean your respiratory tract.
In the family, it is necessary to close the doors, use air purifiers and maintain a good diet to increase resistance. If there are abnormal signs of health, it is necessary to see a doctor and get treatment early to avoid complications.
Air pollution is a problem that cannot be ignored, especially in winter when many people's health becomes more sensitive. Taking the initiative to protect yourself is necessary to minimize the impact of a polluted environment.
