Hanoi air is the most polluted in the world
In recent days, the IQAir air quality index application has ranked Hanoi as the most polluted city in the world with an air quality index (AQI) at a high level, such as 272 on January 7 - purple level, and 219 on January 8 - purple level, very harmful to human health. For many days, West Lake (Hanoi) has been the top polluted area. These are all pollution indexes at the brown level - a level that is dangerous to human health.
From January 10-12, due to the influence of a northeast monsoon, air quality improved to yellow (average) level. However, around the beginning of next week, air pollution may return to the North.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's report on air quality, in recent times, air pollution in Hanoi has been on the rise, with the air quality index (AQI) reaching a bad level at times. Air pollution occurs seasonally and is affected by climate and weather conditions.
According to the Department of Environmental Pollution Control (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), in the Northern region, PM2.5 dust levels often increase from October to March of the following year, causing serious air pollution. Air pollution often occurs before and after cold air waves, with levels increasing sharply at night and early morning. By the end of October 2024, Hanoi had recorded a total of 4 periods of severe air pollution, including 3 from January to April and 1 in early October.
Dr. Hoang Duong Tung - Standing Member of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment - said that Hanoi and localities in the North are in the most serious "air pollution season" of the year, usually lasting from October to March every year. Air pollution has been a serious problem in Hanoi for many years, due to causes such as traffic, industry, construction and civil activities...
Explaining the air pollution situation in Hanoi, Dr. Hoang Duong Tung stated that Hanoi has not yet controlled the source of pollution. The air in Hanoi is always at the red or purple alert level, but the more dangerous thing is that the pollution trend is always increasing without any sign of decreasing. This will cause serious consequences for people's health, especially the elderly and children.
Risk of disease due to air pollution
The World Health Organization (WHO) informs that exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. In particular, it can cause skin damage, eye diseases, impact the nervous system, immune system, and affect mental health.
According to recommendations, air pollution affects the respiratory system: PM2.5 fine dust can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing long-term damage to lung cells and inflammatory responses. Effects on the cardiovascular system: Toxic chemicals and ultrafine dust in polluted air not only affect the lungs but also cause serious consequences for the cardiovascular system. When fine dust particles are inhaled, they can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of inflammation and causing arteriosclerosis. Effects on the nervous system: Long-term exposure to air pollution can have adverse effects on the nervous system...
To proactively protect people's health from the harmful effects of air pollution, the Department of Health Environment Management (Ministry of Health) has developed recommendations on preventing and combating the effects of air pollution on health to help people, especially those who are sensitive to air pollutants such as children, pregnant women, people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and the elderly, have basic knowledge in implementing preventive measures and protecting their health. These recommendations are based on the air quality index AQI.
When the AQI index of air quality is poor, it can affect health, especially sensitive groups, and outdoor activities should be reduced or limited to avoid exposure to air pollutants.
For a green capital
According to Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, Hanoi must have short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions for each source of emissions. For example, with recycling craft villages, when emissions are identified as causing pollution, measures must be taken to limit them.
Regarding transportation, many policies such as forming low emission zones, prioritizing public transportation, switching from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, etc. have been introduced. Regarding waste, there needs to be a mechanism for more professional treatment, both reducing emissions and promoting the development of a green economy.
In addition, to reduce environmental pollution, people's cooperation is also needed. People should proactively reduce household emission behaviors such as burning rice straw, burning garbage, burning gold coins. The State's policies on emission reduction need people to understand and respond.
The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued Plan No. 359/KH-UBND to implement the emulation movement "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful", with strong determination and commitment to create a breakthrough in environmental protection. The plan aims to strictly control pollution sources, promote the movement of joint action, contributing to building a sustainable development of the capital.
In recent days, many localities across Hanoi have launched the emulation movement "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" with new models and creative approaches such as: "Green Weekend" program, "Source Waste Classification" model, "Revive Hanoi Rivers and Lakes" campaign, "Garbage-free Lakeside" campaign... with the participation of the entire political system as well as all classes of people.
Dr. Le Danh Quang - Vice Principal of Hanoi College of Technology - said that we should promote the development of green, clean and sustainable transportation. Accordingly, it is necessary to control old vehicles, reduce emissions into the environment and at the same time, convert personal and public vehicles using gasoline and oil to using electricity and green fuel.
To reduce air pollution, experts encourage the use of electric vehicles, environmentally friendly vehicles thanks to reduced CO2 emissions and pollution from internal combustion engines. Electric vehicles not only reduce dust but also reduce noise, creating a fresh living space. With a widespread charging system, electric vehicles will become a trend, bringing long-term benefits to public health and sustainable environmental development.
Launching the campaign For a green capital
On the morning of January 10, Vingroup Group coordinated with the Hanoi People's Committee to launch the campaign "For a Green Capital". The event took place in the context that Hanoi is facing unprecedented challenges in air pollution, and has been ranked by IQAir as the most polluted city in the world at many times.
This problem seriously affects the health of millions of people in the capital, and at the same time poses an urgent need to protect the living environment and build a sustainable future for the city known as the Heart of the country.
Faced with that situation, Vingroup Corporation officially launched the program "For a green capital", opening a series of practical activities to create strong changes, contributing to making Hanoi truly become a model of a green, clean and civilized city.
This is also the next step of the campaign "Fierce Vietnamese Spirit - For a Green Future" launched by Vingroup Corporation since June 2024, aiming to strongly spread the spirit of action for the environment, while affirming Vingroup's commitment to accompany the government and people of the capital to create a greener, cleaner, and more livable Hanoi.
Dr. Tran Van Mieu, Vice President of Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment: Accelerating the application of the Capital Law into practice
In recent times, Hanoi has been consistently ranked among the most polluted cities in the world. There are many different reasons for this situation. Some of these are objective reasons such as climate change and low cloud cover, which prevent fine dust from escaping.
Regarding subjective causes, Hanoi is a city with a very high density of cars and motorbikes. During rush hour, many means of transport participate at the same time, causing dense smoke and dust. Meanwhile, the problem of controlling the number of vehicles entering and exiting construction sites, places with a lot of fine dust, has not been well controlled... These are the causes of environmental pollution.
To solve this problem, Dr. Tran Van Mieu suggested that, in addition to the general solutions of promoting propaganda, inspection, and pollution control, Hanoi needs to speed up the implementation of the Capital Law.
One of the notable highlights of the Capital Law is the application of low emission zones. This is an area defined to limit polluting vehicles, aiming to improve air quality. One of the contents of this regulation is that Hanoi will limit gasoline vehicles and vehicles with high emission rates from entering inner-city areas such as Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem districts, etc.
As a scientist, he himself is looking forward to the implementation of these regulations. When the policy comes into effect, there will be a scientific basis for adjusting and expanding the low-emission zone in the Hanoi area in the future.
Mr. Nguyen To An, Deputy Director of Vietnam Register: Controlling old motorbikes
One of the new solutions to reduce traffic pollution in the near future is that authorities will tighten management of motorbike emissions.
Through a survey of actual emission testing for about 20,000 motorbikes in 3 cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang), it was shown that for motorbikes with a usage time of less than 5 years (calculated by year of manufacture, up to the time of emission testing), the emission level of pollutants (HC, CO; according to TCVN 6438:2018) almost has no significant change, can meet the emission standards in TCVN 6438:2018.
For vehicles older than 5 years, pollutant emissions increase significantly, depending on the vehicle owner's maintenance regime and frequency of use.
For motorbikes and scooters that are too old (used for more than 12 years); actual inspection results show that the rate of pollutant emissions has increased. According to Mr. Nguyen To An, to prevent pollutant emissions, it is necessary to focus on annual emission inspections for this type of vehicle to raise people's awareness of vehicle maintenance.
From the above research, the authorities focused on tightening the management of emissions for motorbikes, especially old motorbikes that have been used for a long time. Accordingly, the Department of Registration has advised the Ministry of Transport to issue Circular No. 47/2015/TT-BGTVT dated November 15, 2024, which stipulates the order and procedures for inspection of emissions of motorbikes and mopeds. Thus, the control of emissions of road motor vehicles in general and of motorbikes and mopeds in particular across the country, including the capital Hanoi, will be applied in the near future. This specific solution is expected to partly reduce pollution emissions in the capital.
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