A study about the air quality in HCM City carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that the annual PM 2.5 fine dust concentration in Hanoi and HCM City is 28 mg per cubic meter, which is three times higher than the level recommended by the organization (10 mg per cubic meter).

The WHO’s report pointed out that weather conditions (climate change, greenhouse effect, etc.) have led to increased air pollution, especially at the end of the year in these urban areas.

Meanwhile, a report of the Institute for Natural Resources and the Environment, under the HCM City National University, showed that motor vehicles (motorbikes, cars) produce 18 percent of PM 2.5 dust, waste from households 14 percent and activities in the textile and garment industry 13 percent.

Experts said the increase in number of private transport means, emissions from substandard waste treatment areas, and rapid urbanization has turned HCM City into a ‘great construction site’, worsening air pollution. 

A study about the air quality in HCM City carried out by WHO found that the annual PM 2.5 fine dust concentration in Hanoi and HCM City is 28 mg per cubic meter, which is three times higher than the level recommended by the organization (10 mg per cubic meter).

The HCM City Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis sometimes measures the suspended dust concentration at 847µg per cubic meters in the area of Huynh Tan Phat and Nguyen Van Linh Roads in district 7. The level is much higher than the standard level of 300µg per cubic meter.

Nguyen The Dong, former deputy general director of the Vietnam General Directorate of Environment, warned that if HCM City doesn’t have reasonable policies, set specific goals and take timely action, the air pollution will become even more serious.

Dong said the city government needs to set policies on environmental zoning in environment protection planning; assess the air environment load capacity and discharge quotas; set regulations on state management responsibilities by increasing the decentralization of rights/responsibilities to localities/direct management establishments; set regulations on odor control and sanctions on acts of causing air pollution.

According to Ho Quoc Bang, director of the Research Center for Air Pollution and Climate Change, the national action program on air quality control by 2020 is under implementation, but many things have not been deployed.

The air quality control still cannot be implemented in localities, while local authorities complain that it is difficult to do because there is no guidance for implementation and the legal framework remains unclear.

Also according to the expert, Vietnam's air quality management standards are still inconsistent in comparison with the WHO-specified standards on PM10, PM2.5 and AQI.

HCM City authorities have been urged to cut 60-70 percent of volume of emissions to the environment to ensure people’s health.

Mai Chi 

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