Hanoi air quality is very bad

Many monitoring stations in Hanoi show air quality index (AQI) at very bad or hazardous levels, which can seriously affect people's health.

At 8:30 this morning, measuring point 556 Nguyen Van Cu, Long Bien district of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment showed the AQI index was 225 - equivalent to a very bad level, affecting all residents.

Of the 16 monitoring stations of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 7 stations display AQI at the bad level (151-200), 7 stations at the poor level (101-150), two stations at the average level (51-100) and no stations at the good level (0-50).

Of which, the station on Pham Van Dong Street, Bac Tu Liem District has the highest AQI of 194 - approaching the very bad level; station 36 Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem District 184.

Nhat Tan Bridge at 6:30 a.m. on November 28. Photo: Ngoc Thanh — Nhat Tan Bridge at 6:30 a.m. on November 28. Photo: *Ngoc Thanh*

Among the US Embassy's measuring points, the point at the United Nations International School Hanoi in Phu Thuong, Tay Ho district has an AQI of 270, which is very bad.

Pam Air, a personal air quality monitoring system, also recorded many places with very poor air quality. In particular, Sao Mai Center, Thanh Xuan District, had an AQI of 406, which is a hazardous level that can seriously affect people's health.

At the same time, the air pollution synthesis system IQAir ranked Hanoi as the fourth most polluted city in the world with a composite index of 199. Topping the list is Delhi (India) at 282, followed by Karachi and Lahore of Pakistan at 249 and 215 respectively.

The Department of Environmental Pollution Control explained that dust pollution has been occurring in some localities, especially Hanoi, in recent days. The dry, changing seasons have caused dust to spread widely. Burning garbage, straw, and agricultural by-products by suburban residents has also complicated the pollution situation.

"Air quality is showing signs of deterioration, posing a risk to public health and socio-economic development activities," the Department said.

Mr. Hoang Van Thuc, Director of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control, suggested that provinces and cities strengthen monitoring, announce results and recommend that people immediately apply health protection measures, especially for groups of people who are active outdoors from 5am to 7am and 2pm to 7pm.

Localities need to strengthen control of waste sources, advise people not to burn straw, garbage, agricultural by-products, increase cover for construction sites, and spray and clean roads to reduce the amount of dust released into the environment.

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