VietNamNet Bridge – Air pollution in the capital city, which has been bad since last Tuesday, is so severe now that health experts have warned people to stay indoors.

Air pollution has reached alarming levels in some areas of Ha Noi in the past week.

The Air Quality Index at various air monitoring stations across Ha Noi showed dangerously high levels on Monday night. 

For instance, it was at 214 at Nhon Street in Bac Tu Liem District, which is very high. Earlier, last Thursday, the index had touched 294 here, while it was at 263 on Pham Van Dong Street.

An index of above 300 will have adverse effect on people, according to the US Environment Protection Agency.

Ha Noi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung admitted that the city’s air quality was at “red alert level”.

At a recent meeting with concerned agencies, Chung had said that the high level of air pollution was the result of the large number of cars and motorcycles in the city that have crossed their expiry dates.

“Ha Noi has nearly six million motorcycles, of which 2.5 million crossed their expiry date and should be banned on roads. These vehicles are seriously polluting the environment,” he told Zing online newspaper.

Chung also blamed the worsening of the air quality on road constructions and industries.

Drastic measures would be adopted to curb the problem and improve air quality, he said. The city would ask project investors to spend on waste treatment systems and use eco-friendly technologies.

In the future, Ha Noi will add 80 observation posts for recording air pollution. 

VNS