Hydrocarbons air pollution

Adam Ward, Country Representative of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in Vietnam (left) and Kate Bronstein, Research Environmental Engineer from RTI International. Air pollution is a mixture of small particles and gases – some we can see and some we can’t. Vietnam’s major cities are gravely affected by poor air quality; indeed, Hanoi was ranked second worst for air quality in the Southeast Asian region in 2018 by Air Visual. Situation in Vietnam When we talk about air pollution, we are referring to: particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM10), PM2.5, black carbon, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and volatile organic carbons (VOCs). Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City regularly exceed the safe World Health Organization (WHO) limit for air pollution such as PM2.5 and PM10. So, what is causing this poor air? This has been attributed to five main drivers, including coal power, heavy industry (such as cement … [Read more...] about Tackling Vietnam’s air pollution

At 8 a.m. on Monday, a bird’s eye view shows smog giving Hanoi the look of a ghost city. Hours earlier, at 4 a.m., AirVisual recorded Hanoi’s air quality index (AQI) at 385 - the highest level the city has witnessed this month. AirVisual measures Hanoi's air quality based on 10 monitoring stations run by Hanoi authorities and four by non-profit organizations. However, this result is vastly different compared to the AQI recorded by the automatic monitoring systems in Hanoi installed at various spots, which ranged from 147 – 162. AirVisual showed the AQI on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street at 302 at 8 a.m., but Hanoi's monitoring station on Thanh Cong Street (1.2 km away) had it at 150. The AQI, a metric used by multiple governmental agencies to determine how polluted the air is, ranges from 0 to 500, where high index values indicate higher levels of air pollution and higher potential for adverse health effects. Children, seniors and individuals with … [Read more...] about Hanoi air pollution goes from very bad to much worse

University students look at a photo exhibition on air pollution in Vietnam's big cities (Photo courtesy of CHANGE) The exhibitions, which are part of the Clean Air, Blue Sky campaign, call on visitors and students to take part in programmes promoting pure air. The exhibitions began at the HCM City University of Social Science and Humanities in District 1 on June 5, and will travel to the Banking University in Thu Duc district on June 8, and to Hoa Sen University in district 1 on June 10, among other locations. At the exhibitions, students play games relating to environmental protection. Dr Dong Van Huong, Vice Rector of the HCM City University of Transport and Communication, where the exhibition will be held on June 12, said that university students should think of ways to reduce air pollution, especially in transport. Nguyen Cat Tuong, project manager at the Centre of Hands-on Action and Networking for Growth … [Read more...] about Photo exhibitions on air pollution tour universities in HCM City

The findings taken by Vietnam-based environment monitoring app PamAir indicate that the AQI is currently harmful for human health around the inner city of Hanoi. Moreover, areas on the capital’s outskirts such as Bac Tu Liem have seen the AQI level reach up to 323, which is a dangerous level according to application. The Vietnam Environment Administration has attributed the increased levels of air pollution over the past few days to the change of season occurring in Hanoi and other regions across the north. According to environmental experts, the increasing levels of PM 2.5 are recorded at midnight and early in the morning, whilst calm winds and ongoing activities at construction sites across the capital have also contributed to the increased levels of pollution. … [Read more...] about Hanoians warned to limit outdoor activities amid heightened levels of air pollution

Can Tho, the fourth largest city in Vietnam and the largest city in the Mekong Delta, has a comprehensive Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) in place, which prioritizes the monitoring of air quality and reduction of its major sources of emission, particularly transportation and industrial operations. Photo for illustration: tinmoitruong.vn “The Clean Air Action Plan will guide the City People’s Committee in managing air quality to improve the people’s quality of life, protect the city’s environment, comply with the requirements for clean air and sustainable urban transportation, and strengthen the city’s resilience to climate change,” said Mr. Dao Anh Dung, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People’s Committee during the launch and handover ceremony of CAAP from Clean Air Asia and Vietnam Environment Agency to Can Tho City. Noted as the first clean air action plan for the city, it was approved by the Can Tho City People’s … [Read more...] about WHO commends Can Tho’s commitment to tackling air pollution