Hanoi's air quality is nearing hazardous levels.

Hanoi's air pollution reached its worst level since the beginning of the year on the night of December 12th, with many monitoring stations reporting hazardous AQI levels.

At 10 PM, the air quality monitoring station at Hanoi University of Technology on Giai Phong Street, operated by the Department of Environment ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), displayed an AQI of 282, the highest recorded since the beginning of this winter and approaching hazardous levels (AQI above 300).

At this station, from the afternoon of December 12th, during hourly updates, the AQI index continuously increased; however, the station stopped updating at 11 PM. The station on Giai Phong Street also recorded very poor air quality continuously for the past 36 hours (from 7 AM on December 11th). This marks the most severe air pollution episode since the beginning of the season.

Severe air pollution at night in Hanoi . Photo: Hoang Giang.

Meanwhile, at 11 PM, the AQI index at the Nhan Chinh Park station on Khuat Duy Tien Street was 195.

AQI is an air quality index that reflects the level of pollution; the higher the index, the greater the health impact. Authorities believe that pollution mainly comes from fine particulate matter PM2.5. An AQI exceeding 300 is equivalent to a hazardous level – the highest on the scale – and corresponds to an emergency health warning: "the entire population is severely affected."

At 11 PM, other stations also recorded very poor air quality index levels: Ha Nam ward (Ninh Binh) with an AQI of 257; the former Hung Yen city station (Hung Yen) with 228; and the station in Thai Binh ward (Hung Yen) with a very poor AQI between 6 PM and 9 PM.

According to IQAir, an air quality data aggregation website that collects and ranks AQI data based on a global network of monitoring stations, at 11:45 PM on December 12th, IQAir ranked Hanoi as the third most polluted city in the world with an index of 326, behind Lahore (Pakistan) at 465 and Delhi (India) at 413.

On this system's map, 7 stations in Hanoi show hazardous levels (AQI above 300). Specifically, one station in Ha Dong recorded an index of 433, Long Bien 405, Tay Ho 392, and Tran Vu 364.

The Department of Environment forecasts that tomorrow, as the cold air mass arrives, air quality in Hanoi and the North will improve to average levels.

On November 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requested that ministries and agencies implement urgent measures in Hanoi and surrounding areas. The Ministry of Industry and Trade was asked to require thermal power plants, steel mills, chemical plants, and fertilizer factories to operate their exhaust gas treatment systems, refrain from discharging untreated emissions, and reduce capacity when the index exceeds 200.

The Ministry of Construction requires construction sites to use protective coverings, wash vehicles, and spray mist to suppress dust, and may temporarily suspend projects that generate significant dust. Local authorities are to reroute traffic and control vehicles transporting materials to limit congestion and reduce pollution. The Ministry of Public Security is intensifying efforts to crack down on vehicles transporting materials without protective coverings, vehicles exceeding their service life that emit black smoke, and illegal waste burning.

The Ministry of Health provides guidance to the public on protecting their health, especially vulnerable groups. The Ministry of Education and Training requires educational institutions to limit outdoor activities when air quality is poor.

Source: vnexpress.net

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/chat-luong-khong-khi-ha-noi-tiem-can-muc-nguy-hai-a234047.html