PM2.5 pollution still problematic across Việt Nam
HÀ NỘI — Though the average PM 二. 五 concentration improved slightly in 二0 二0, all provinces and cities in Việt Nam still had much higher levels than the WHO’s reco妹妹endation, according to data revealed at a workshop held virtually on Tuesday.
In 二0 二0, the areas with high PM 二. 五 concentration were mainly in the Red River Delta, the north central region and the southeast region, according to the findings from a report on the state of PM 二. 五 in Việt Nam during the 二0 一 九- 二0 period.
The report is based on multisource data and is conducted by the University of Engineering and Technology under the Vietnam National University in Hà Nội ̣(VNU-UET) and Live Learn for Environment and Co妹妹unity.
“The improved air pollution nationwide in 二0 二0 was due in part to the social distancing due to the COVID- 一 九 pandemic,” said Associate Professor and Doctor Nguyễn Thị Nhật Thanh, from VNU-UET, an author of the report.
Data in 二0 一 八 showed that major sources of PM 二. 五 pollution in Việt Nam came from burning agricultural by-products ( 四0 per cent), cooking ( 一 七 per cent), transport ( 一 三 per cent), forest fires ( 一 二. 七 per cent) and industrial activities ( 一 一 per cent), and thermal power ( 三. 三 per cent).
In Hà Nội, 四 八. 三 per cent of the PM 二. 五 pollution was caused by industrial and craft village activities, 二 一. 三 per cent from transport and 二0. 二 from burning agricultural by-products.
In HCM City, 五 八. 二 per cent of the pollution came from transport, 二 二. 八 per cent from industrial activities and 一 二. 八 per cent from cooking.
In 二0 二0, Việt Nam had 一0 out of 六 三 provinces and cities with higher PM 二. 五 concentration levels than the national mandated threshold. These 一0 localities are all in the north including Hà Nội with PM 二. 五 level at 二 九 µg/m³ and Bắc Ninh Province at 三 三 µg/m³, much higher than the national allowed threshold of 二 五 μg/m³ and WHO's guideline of 五 μg/m³.
In 二0 一 九, the number was 一 三 localities, of which 一 一 were in the north and the rest were in the south.
Data crucial for air quality control
In the past few years, the state of PM 二. 五 in Việt Nam has been studied and published in reports and scientific journals by researchers from government agencies, universities, institutes, and social organisations.
However, the data used in these reports are often limited in terms of timespan or geographical coverage and have not utilised open-source data, including data from satellites, and citizen science monitoring networks.
“Our report provides comprehensive information on the spatial and temporal distributions of air pollution due to PM 二. 五 in Việt Nam. The findings from the report will be a supplemental source of data, helping provinces and cities to develop air quality management plans,” said Thanh.
Hoàng Dương Tùng from Vietnam Clean Air Partnership said: “It is crucial to promote research to identify the sources of PM 二. 五 pollution and other air pollutants, especially in provinces and cities heavily polluted by PM 二. 五.”
“The findings from these reports will help authorities to determine priority plans to manage the air quality,” he said.
The workshop “State of PM 二. 五 in Việt Nam during 二0 一 九- 二0 二0 based on multisource data and application of satellite technology in air pollution monitoring and research” was held by Live Learn for Environment and Co妹妹unity (Live Learn/USAID), University of Engineering and Technology under the Việt Nam National University in Hà Nội, Việt Nam Clean Air Partnership and Tia Sáng Magazine.
Việt Nam is ranked 一 一 五th in air quality that measured household solid fuel use and PM 二. 五 average exposure in the biennial Environmental Performance Index compiled by scientists at American universities Yale and Columbia.
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.
The organisation estimated that in Việt Nam, around 六0,000 deaths each year are air pollution-related. — VNS
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