Air pollution at hazardous levels
In early October, people could easily observe the alarming level of air pollution in Hanoi. According to the warning of the air monitoring system, the air quality is very poor and harmful to the health of sensitive groups such as the elderly, children and people with respiratory diseases.
On the morning of October 13, Hanoi was in a state of air pollution, ranking third in the world according to the ranking of the air pollution control application AirVisual with AQI at 184. Many points in Hanoi had air pollution reaching the purple level - a warning of health hazards. Accordingly, at the measuring point on Quang Khanh Street (Tay Ho District), the AQI number reached 281.
Some other serious air measuring points such as Quang Ba have AQI 255, Sao Mai - Tay Ho swimming pool area has AQI 262; United Nations International School Hanoi measuring point has AQI 222; Ngoc Thuy street (Long Bien district) has AQI 203; Hoang Quoc Viet street AQI is 192...
According to information from the Environmental Monitoring Portal (Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Hanoi City), at 7:00 a.m. on October 13, the measuring point Minh Khai - Bac Tu Liem AQI was 121; Van Ha AQI was 157; Kim Bai AQI was 118...
The air pollution problem in Hanoi causes many people to face health problems.
Ms. Cao Huong, 80 years old, living in Cau Giay district, shared: “This morning I went out to exercise at 6 am and saw that the sky was gloomy and gloomy, thinking it was fog. After walking for a while, I felt short of breath, my heart was beating fast, I had a headache… I quickly returned home. I heard from my children that Hanoi has been suffering from very heavy air pollution these days.”
At the Geriatric Hospital and the National Children's Hospital, in the past few days, the number of patients being examined and hospitalized due to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, etc. has increased.
Air pollution season lasts 6 months
Dr. Hoang Duong Tung - Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, former Deputy Directorate of the Environmental Directorate - said: “The time when Hanoi enters the air pollution season is from October to March next year. The cause of pollution is due to the high construction density in the city. The amount of emissions from waste incineration areas and industrial zones in the suburbs is increasing. People burn straw and smoke from private vehicles... making air pollution worse and worse.”
Dr. Tung warned that polluted air has a huge impact on health. Therefore, people should limit outdoor activities. If it is absolutely necessary, go out to ensure health.
Healthy people exposed to polluted air for a long time often have symptoms such as eye, skin, nose and throat irritation; coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort... Using masks that meet the standards of the Ministry of Health is very necessary, not all types can avoid 2.5PM fine dust.
Faced with the problem of air pollution, the Department of Environmental Pollution Control (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) has requested the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment to urgently direct, increase the frequency of monitoring, and publish the results of air quality monitoring on electronic information portals and media. The Department also requires localities to organize inspections and supervision of emission sources, especially open burning sites, waste burning, burning of straw, agricultural by-products, construction works, and industrial production facilities.
