For the whole day, Hanoi has been immersed in pollution. The air quality in Hanoi in the morning is at a bad level, and it has not improved until tonight.
According to the IQ Air air quality index measuring application, at 6:00 p.m. today, November 30, Hanoi ranked 2nd in terms of pollution, after the city of Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Hanoi's AQI is at 197 (red) - harmful to human health. By 7pm, Hanoi ranked 3rd with AQI 192.
The VN Air application of the Department of Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) also shows that Hanoi's pollution index is high. Accordingly, at the DHBK measuring station of parabol gate on Giai Phong street, AQI is at 172 (red level); at station 556 Nguyen Van Cu, the red threshold is also maintained from morning until 6pm at 166. These two measuring points are also the two most polluted points in the country, according to this application.
According to the forecast of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in the coming days, the risk of PM 2.5 fine dust accumulation is likely to increase, the Air Quality Index (AQI) will exceed 150, directly affecting public health and economic and social activities.
According to Mr. Le Hoai Nam - Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, according to the results of air quality monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in localities across the country, air pollution in our country is mainly P.M 2.5 fine dust pollution. Observation results show that in Hanoi and some provinces in the Red River Delta, fine dust pollution is becoming very complicated and at a high level.
According to Mr. Nam, in recent years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production and business activities and transportation activities have decreased, and air quality has improved during this period. However, after the pandemic ended, air pollution tended to increase again, especially in 2024, air pollution in Hanoi and some northern provinces is relatively bad. In the last period of 2024 alone, Hanoi has experienced 4 prolonged air pollutions, monitoring results show that the fine dust pollution data in 2024 exceeded about 2 times and the number of days with bad air quality was quite high.
To proactively control, prevent and minimize the level of pollution and adverse impacts of this pollution, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment recommends that ministries, corporations and general corporations focus on directing and implementing drastic emergency measures.
In particular, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is required to direct corporations, general companies, investors of thermal power plants, steel plants, chemicals, fertilizers, etc. in the Northern region: Review and ensure that emission treatment systems are operated, operate effectively, and achieve high efficiency at this time; absolutely do not discharge untreated waste into the environment in any case; Research and apply a plan to regulate, reduce operating capacity or postpone major maintenance and repair schedules (if any) during the days with a pollution warning at the "Very Bad" level (VN_AQI > 200) to reduce the emission load on the environment.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also requested the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to focus on directing and drastically implementing urgent measures. In particular, it is necessary to direct environmental sanitation units and project owners to invest in building transport infrastructure to immediately increase the frequency of road sweeping and vacuuming; use specialized vehicles to spray water to wash the roads at main traffic routes and urban gateways. Water spraying and dusty activities should be prioritized during off-peak hours to ensure effective reduction of dust accumulation before rush hour and avoid congestion.
