VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have repeatedly warned about declining air quality. However, settling the problem is difficult despite an existing legal framework.

According to the Pollution Control Agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE), the air quality in Vietnam has not improved. The air quality index showed that more than 50 percent of days in the year have low air quality. 

The dust concentration in some craft villages which make building materials is 3-8 times higher than the permitted level, while the concentration of SO2, which is harmful to human health, causing lung disease, is 6.5 times higher in some places.

The air pollutants come from different sources – vehicles in circulation, thermopower plants, industrial zones and construction sites. 

The dust concentration in some craft villages which make building materials is 3-8 times higher than the permitted level, while the concentration of SO2, which is harmful to human health, causing lung disease, is 6.5 times higher in some places.

Scientists have rung the alarm bell not only over dust pollution, but also ozone pollution which they say is increasing in the air in large urban areas in Vietnam.

According to Nguyen Van Thuy, director of the Environment Monitoring Center, the ozone concentration exceeding the allowable level has been found in many places in all the northern, central and southern regions, especially on hot and sunny days. 
A high ozone concentration at night has also been found. 

The increase in ozone concentration has led to a higher percentage of respiratory illnesses in major cities. High concentration of ozone in the air damages human health, especially children, the elderly and people working outdoors. 

Thuy said the General Directorate of Environment issued two national reports about the air environment in 2007 and 2013.

The 2013 report showed that there was no considerable improvement in the air quality in comparison with the 2007 report. Hanoi is one of the cities n the world with high levels of air pollution.

Nguyen Hoang Duc from the Pollution Control Agency said there was poor enforcement of the laws. Businesses continue discharging waste indiscriminately and ignore the requirements on waste treatment systems. 

Due to the limited financial capability, factories are only equipped with low-tech waste treatment systems which can only treat dust and nitrogen. 

Bloomberg cited a Harvard University research work released in January 2017 as saying that if Vietnam increases the coal power capacity by four times in the next 13 years as planned, by 2030, 189 out of every 1 million Vietnamese would die because of causes related to coal power. 

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