Alarming Air Pollution In Vietnam

One of Vietnam's environmental issues can be mentioned as Air Pollution. Vietnam is struggling with alarming air pollution. Its two biggest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are now among the top 15 polluted cities in Southeast Asia. 

This article will clarify the air pollution problem, current state, reason and solution.

Industry zones cause Air pollution in Vietnam - Source: Google.com

1. Current issue of air pollution in Vietnam

According to the Report on the State of Vietnam's Environment about the  for the period 2016-2020 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in the past period, air pollution in Vietnam continues to be one of the hot environmental issues. The air environment is mainly polluted with dust (TSP, PM10, PM2.5), especially dust pollution in big cities, in some industrial parks, in some mining areas and in some craft villages. Air pollution tends to increase gradually from 2015 - 2019 (the most polluted) and will be reduced in 2020 due to the gap implementation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Polluted gas parameters such as SO2, NO2, O3, CO, VOC, etc., are basically still within the allowable limits. Air quality in small urban areas and in rural areas remains relatively stable at fairly good and moderate levels.

• - Urban air pollution

According to Vietnam air pollution statistics, dust pollution (TSP, PM10, PM2.5) is happening in many urban areas of Vietnam. Especially in large cities, the annual average value of PM10 and PM2.5 dust at all automatic air monitoring stations in Hanoi, in the period 2018-2020, exceeds the permissible values ​​of QCVN 05: 2013/BTNMT from 1.1 to 2.2 times, the highest occurred in 2019.

Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City and other cities in the South, the annual average value of PM10 and PM2.5 dust is quite stable, their variation is not significant. In general, the air quality in terms of dust in the central and southern cities is better than in the northern cities. Air quality in coastal cities is better than in mainland cities. In large cities in the North, such as Hanoi, the number of days in a year with poor and bad air quality index (AQI) accounts for about 30.5% of the total number of monitoring days, including some has a very bad AQI (AQI = 201-300). In Vietnam, dust pollution is significantly affected by climatic factors that create the law of air quality evolution according to the seasons of the year and the hours of the day. In the North, greater dust pollution occurs in winter (from October of the previous year to March of the following year). For the southern region, the dust pollution level also decreases markedly in the rainy season months, and higher in the dry season. However, in the central region, this rule is not obvious.

• - Air pollution in industrial parks and clusters

Similar to the big cities in Vietnam, the concentration of TSP dust in most of the industrial zones and industrial zones exceeds the allowable threshold according to QCVN 05: 2013/BTNMT. Dust pollution in industrial clusters in the northern provinces is usually larger than in industrial zones in the south, while the difference in dust pollution in industrial clusters in the Central and Southern regions is not much. In terms of industries, coal power generation, construction material production and processing industry, and mining activities are the industries that generate the most dust and cause heavy dust pollution in the regions. SO2 pollution around industrial zones in the North is larger than others in the South. In contrast, the concentration of NO2 around these places in the South is higher than ones  in the North. However, the concentration of SO2, NO2 gas near most of the industrial zones in the North, Central and South are within the allowable limits of QCVN 05: 2013/BTNMT. The concentration of CO is mainly caused by transportation activities, so it usually reaches its maximum value at 7-9 hours and 17-19 hours of the day. O3 concentration often varies with solar radiation during the day, so it usually tends to increase gradually from 7 am, peaking at night hours.

• - Air pollution in craft villages

Up to now, air pollution in craft villages has not been controlled. Because production technology is outdated, no proper investment in waste treatment, and the fuel used is low-quality coal. Therefore, air pollution in craft villages in recent years tends to increase. In some craft villages, there is heavy pollution in terms of dust, toxic gas, metal vapor, odor and noise pollution.

• - Air quality in rural and small cities

In general, the air quality in small cities and rural areas is still relatively good. Concentrations of air pollutants are within the allowable threshold of QCVN 05: 2013/BTNMT. However, in some places, there was local air pollution due to improper burning of domestic waste and burning of straw during the rice harvest season.

2. Causes of air pollution in Vietnam

Air pollution is a major threat to the environment, society and human health. In Vietnam, in recent years, the situation of air pollution is becoming more serious. Here are the main causes:

• - Industry Development

According to the Report on establishment and development of industrial parks and economic zones in 2020 of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the 2016-2020 period, industrial production accounts for more than 30% of national GDP, and is continuously growing (with the average rate of 8.2% per year). By the end of 2020, there are 369 Industrial Parks nationwide, with a total area of ​​about 114 thousand hectares, of which 284 Industrial Parks have been put into operation, an increase of 72 Industrial Parks compared to 2015; There are 698 industrial clusters that have been put into operation with a total area of ​​about 22 thousand hectares.

The rapid increase of foreign investment projects in industrial parks, in the field of processing (paper, textile dyeing, tanning, mining and processing minerals, chemicals, thermal power...) causes air pollution.

• - Rapid urbanization
  

Implementing the "Doi Moi" work since 1986 in Vietnam has opened a period of rapid urbanization. In 1990, Vietnam had only 500 large and small urban centers; in 2000, there were 649 urban centers, by 2016 there were 802 urban centers and by 2020 this has increased to 862 urban centers. The urban population rate of Vietnam in 2016 is 36.7%, in 2020 it will be 39.3%. It is forecasted that by 2026 the proportion of urban population in Vietnam will increase to 45%. The process of rapid urbanization will put great pressure on environmental protection, affecting security and social safety.

• - Transport development

Along with industrialization and urbanization, the transportation industry in the country has also developed very quickly, causing a huge source of air pollution, especially urban air pollution. By the end of 2020, there are 4,180,478 cars of all kinds and more than 30 million motorcycles and motorbikes in circulation. The control of pollution sources from transport is still very limited. Up to now, only 1,736,188 gasoline engine cars and 1,749,387 diesel cars have been in circulation.

• - Construction development

Unlike many developed countries in the world, Vietnam's construction industry is also a huge source of air pollution. Every year in Vietnam, millions of m2 of new housing floor area are built, hundreds of kilometers of roads, dozens of medium and large bridges. In many places construction sites are operating, causing ambient air pollution.

• - Burning waste and straw

Currently, in many localities, especially in many wards and communes in the delta, domestic waste is often burned in a natural way or with small capacity incinerators, the combustion temperature is not high enough to burn inorganic toxic chemicals, very harmful to public health.

In addition, recently during the agricultural harvest season, the air quality in some localities tends to decline, especially at night. One of the main reasons is the burning of straw is common in the rice harvest period, PM2.5 fine dust starts to increase from about 6pm and reaches its maximum value from 9pm to 1am the next morning, exceeding the allowable standard value from 2 to - 1 a.m. 5 times.

3. How does air pollution in Vietnam affect the ecosystem?

• - Harm to human health

Air pollution exposes people to fine particles in polluted air. These fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory infections. Industry, transportation and coal-fired power plants along with the use of solid fuels are the major sources of air pollution. Air pollution continues to increase at an alarming rate and affects economies and people's quality of life.

Air pollution threatens the health of people everywhere in the world. Recent estimates in 2018 show that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, around 7 million people around the world die from diseases related to air pollution such as heart disease, lung disease and stroke. In the Western Pacific region alone, about 2.2 million people die each year. Every day, about 93% of the world's children under 15 years old (equivalent to 1.8 billion children) breathe polluted air, which seriously affects their health and development. The most harmful pollutant for health – strongly linked to premature mortality is PM2.5 fine particles that penetrate deep into the lung.

In Vietnam, in the 10 diseases with the highest mortality rate in Vietnam, 6 diseases are related to the respiratory tract caused by air pollution and air quality. In the disease structure, respiratory diseases are also one of the five most commonly acquired disease groups. According to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016, more than 60,000 deaths from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia in Vietnam are related to pollution. air pollution. Every year, our country records more than 20,000 people with lung cancer, about 56 people get it every day, of which, up to 17,000 people have died. It is estimated that by 2020, there will be 34,000 people infected every year, and 90 more people are diagnosed with the disease every day.

• - Harm to Plants and Animals

Hazardous compounds such as: SO2, NO2, CO, etc., present in polluted air clog the trachea and reduce the animal's immune system.

In addition, HF compounds also cause fruit trees to lose their leaves in mass, gradually causing tree death, indirectly warming the earth with the greenhouse effect.

Smog from industrial zones also causes acid rain, acid rain kills trees, pollutes water sources, kills beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Causing farming to be affected, yield reduction, crop failure, etc.

4. Solutions to overcome air pollution

Faced with the increasingly serious situation of air pollution, each individual needs to protect the health of people and the planet. Some solutions to overcome air pollution can be mentioned as:

• - Plant trees and green hills to absorb CO2 as well as toxic substances.
• - Prioritize the use of public transport, reduce emissions every day.
• - Urbanize properly, limit fine dust PM 2.5.
• - Treat exhaust gas before discharging into the environment.
• - No littering.
• - Application of green technology in construction, cultivation and animal husbandry.
• - Limit the use of chemicals in agriculture and forestry.
• - Expired vehicles that do not meet emission standards are prohibited.
• - Propagating and mobilizing people to understand more about the harmful effects of air pollution.
• - Dispose of waste properly.
• - Limit the use of burning materials that are not environmentally friendly.
• - Use equipment that saves electricity and does not release toxins into the environment.

5. Ways to protect health from air pollution in Vietnam

To prevent the effects of air pollution, the first thing we need is the cooperation of the whole society. Let's all come together:

• - Environmental awareness: no discharge, no burning of garbage, burning of straw, cleaning of houses, neighborhoods, etc.
• - Plant more trees
• - Use public transport, limit personal vehicles
• - Use clean fuel

For each individual, we must be aware of the dangers of fine dust and air pollution, and at the same time propagate to our loved ones, family and friends about the harmful effects of PM2.5. Protect yourself by:

• - Always wear a mask when going out
• - Exercise and eating in moderation to improve resistance, especially lung detoxification methods can be used to reduce the influence of fine dust in the body.

In conclusion, people who are exposed to air pollution are at risk of developing diseases including lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, and respiratory infections because the small particles in polluted air may go deep within the lungs and cardiovascular system. Air pollution is mostly caused by industry, transportation, coal power plants, and residential solid fuel consumption. Economy and quality of life are both impacted by the alarming pace of increase in air pollution.

In many regions of the world, air pollution poses a hazard to people's health. Nine out of ten individuals breathe air with high levels of pollution, according to new figures from 2018. Around 7 million deaths worldwide occur each year as a result of home and ambient air pollution, with the Western Pacific Region alone accounting for around 2.2 million of those fatalities. Each year, air pollution-related fatalities in Vietnam total over 60,000. So, with all love sent to the earth, we should live in green-living and protect the environment.