The excessive PM2.5 density is mainly recorded in areas with busy construction activities or heavy traffic (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi plans to set up more air qualitymonitoring stations in the face of worsening air pollution, according to localauthorities.
The average level of fine particulate matter(PM2.5 – particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) – in 24 hours on somedays in the first quarter of 2019 exceeded the permissible level of nationaltechnical standards for air quality.
The high PM2.5 density concentrated in Januaryand March, especially on January 11-13, January 19-20, January 23-26, March 11-14,March 20-22 and March 26-27.
These are results collected from automaticmonitoring stations located on Nguyen Van Cu street of the Vietnam EnvironmentAdministration (VEA), 10 other stations of the Hanoi Department of NaturalResources and Environment and the facility of the US Embassy.
However, the excessive PM2.5 density varied indifferent areas. Among the 12 automatic monitoring stations across Hanoi, thoserecording many days with density are mostly located in areas with busyconstruction activities or heavy traffic like Pham Van Dong and Hang Daustreets and Minh Khai ward of Bac Tu Liem district.
In other areas, the rate of days with excessivedensity was “relatively low”, local authorities reported, adding that airquality recorded at those stations was mainly at the average level in the firstthree months.
The number of days with air quality at good andaverage levels was “relatively high” in outlying areas or areas with airy orgreen spaces like Nguyen Van Cu street, Tan Mai ward of Hoang Mai district, orMy Dinh area and Tay Mo ward of Nam Tu Liem district.
In Hanoi and some other northern localities, airpollution usually increases in winter and early spring. Additionally, PM2.5density surges during rush hours when traffic becomes heavier.
The Hanoi environment department said the cityhas carried out a plan on air quality monitoring network until 2020, the firstVietnamese locality to implement such plan.
The department noted it will add at least threemore automatic monitoring stations to the existing system to serve airpollution reduction efforts.
The VEA added the Ministry of Natural Resourcesand Environment and many big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have alsobeen setting up monitoring systems to collect information about water, air andsoil environment quality.-VNA
VNA
