Recommendations for preventing the effects of air pollution on public health

To proactively protect public health from the impact of air pollution, on December 1, 2025, the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) developed Recommendations for preventing and combating the impact of air pollution on health to help people have basic knowledge in implementing preventive measures and protecting their health. This recommendation is based on the values ​​of the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

1. General health protection and prevention measures

a) Regularly monitor air quality on the websites of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment of provinces and cities to implement appropriate preventive and health protection measures.

b) When leaving the house, always wear a quality mask and wear it properly.

c) Regularly clean your room and house, and keep your living environment clean and airy. You should use a mask and protective glasses when cleaning if there is a lot of dust or the air is polluted from poor to hazardous levels.

d) Limit the use or replace the use of honeycomb coal stoves, firewood, and straw burning with electric stoves, induction stoves, or gas stoves.

d) Planting trees helps prevent dust and clean the air.

e) For cigarette and tobacco smokers: should quit or limit smoking; should not smoke indoors. For non-smokers, should stay away from cigarette smoke.

f) Regularly monitor your health and have regular health check-ups.

g) For people sensitive to air pollutants (children, pregnant women, people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, the elderly) :

- Avoid exposure to sources of air pollution emissions from vehicles; construction sites; cooking areas using coal, firewood, straw or other areas at risk of air pollution .

- During times of air pollution, if symptoms or acute illnesses such as fever, rhinopharyngitis, bronchial pneumonia, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, etc. appear, you should immediately go to a medical facility for examination, consultation and treatment.

- Enhance nutrition to improve physical condition and resistance.

- Pay attention to keeping your body warm in winter to avoid sudden cold.

- People with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases need to comply with and maintain treatment as prescribed by a specialist. If there are signs of discomfort or worsening, they should immediately go to a specialized medical facility for examination, consultation and treatment.

- The elderly and people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases need to comply with regular health check-ups.

2. Preventive measures to protect health when the air quality index is at an average level (VN_AQI at 51 - 100)

a) For normal people: participate in outdoor activities without restrictions.

b) For sensitive people

- Reduce outdoor activities and strenuous physical activities.

- Monitor your health. If you experience acute symptoms such as difficulty breathing, cough, or fever , go immediately to a medical facility for examination, consultation, and treatment.

3. Preventive measures to protect health when the air quality index is poor ( VN_AQI is at 101 - 150)

a) For normal people

- Reduce time participating in outdoor activities, especially for people with symptoms of sore eyes, cough, sore throat.

- Limit or avoid activities in areas with high risk of air pollution (such as streets, traffic intersections, construction sites, industrial production areas, craft villages and other polluted areas) .

- Students can participate in outdoor activities, but limit physical exercise or activities that require strenuous activity for a long time.

b) For sensitive people

- Limit outdoor activities and strenuous physical activities. Increase rest time and light activities. Reduce or stop exercise immediately if you notice symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness or wheezing.

- Clean nose and gargle morning and night with saline, especially after going out.

- Rinse eyes with saline solution at night before going to bed.

- Monitor your health. If you experience acute symptoms such as difficulty breathing, cough, or fever, go immediately to a medical facility for examination, advice, and treatment .

4. Preventive measures to protect health when the air quality index is at a bad level ( VN_AQI at 151 - 200)

a) For normal people

- Limit outdoor activities or strenuous physical activities. If you have to work or do outdoor activities, you should choose a time of day when there is less pollution. You should rest more and do activities at a moderate intensity.

- Avoid activities in areas with high risk of air pollution.

- If you have to participate in traffic, you should increase the use of public transport and limit the use of motorbikes and bicycles to reduce exposure to polluted air.

- You should limit opening windows and doors when the air is heavily polluted, especially families near traffic routes or areas with air pollution .

- Clean your nose and gargle with saline solution morning and night, especially after going out. Rinse your eyes with saline solution at night before going to bed.

b) For sensitive people

- Avoid outdoor activities or activities that require strenuous physical activity. Activities such as exercise and physical activity should be done indoors. Limit opening windows and doors during times of heavy air pollution.

- Clean your nose and gargle with saline solution morning and night, especially after going out. Rinse your eyes with saline solution at night before going to bed.

- Monitor your health. If you experience acute symptoms such as difficulty breathing, cough, or fever, go immediately to a medical facility for examination, advice, and treatment .

5. Preventive measures to protect health when the air quality index is at a very bad level ( VN_AQI at 201 - 300)

a) For normal people

- Avoid prolonged outdoor activities or strenuous physical activities. Indoor activities are encouraged.

- Avoid working in areas with high risk of air pollution. If you have to work in areas with high risk of pollution, you should use masks that can prevent fine dust ( dust with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) .

- If you have to participate in traffic, you should increase the use of public transport and limit the use of motorbikes and bicycles to reduce exposure to polluted air.

- Limit opening windows and doors during times of heavy air pollution.

- Clean your nose and gargle with saline solution morning and night, especially after going out. Rinse your eyes with saline solution at night before going to bed.

b) For sensitive people

- Avoid all outdoor activities, switch to indoor activities or change to another day when the air quality index is better. Limit opening windows and doors during times of heavy air pollution.

- If you have to leave the house, you should minimize the time spent outdoors and use masks that can prevent fine dust. Clean your nose and gargle with saline solution morning and night, especially after going out. Rinse your eyes with saline solution in the evening before going to bed.

- Monitor your health. If you experience acute symptoms such as difficulty breathing, cough, or fever, go immediately to a medical facility for examination, advice, and treatment .

6. Preventive measures to protect health when the air quality index is at a hazardous level ( VN_AQI at 301–500)

a) For normal people

- Avoid outdoor activities, switch to indoor activities or change to another day when the air quality index is better.

- Close windows and doors to limit and avoid exposure to pollutants.

b) For sensitive people

- Avoid all outdoor activities, switch to indoor activities.

- Close windows and doors to limit and avoid exposure to pollutants.

- Monitor your health. If you experience acute symptoms such as difficulty breathing, cough, or fever , go immediately to a medical facility for examination, advice, and treatment .

7. In case of seriously polluted air environment (VN_AQI value is 301 or higher for 03 consecutive days)

Pursuant to Consolidated Document 01/VBHN-BTNMT dated January 10, 2025 consolidating the Decree detailing a number of articles of the Law on Environmental Protection, it is possible to consider suspending or adjusting working hours of agencies, organizations and schools. If it is mandatory to go to school, it is necessary to avoid outdoor activities, switch to indoor activities or adjust school hours accordingly. Temporarily suspend outdoor activities with large crowds.

Faculty of Communication - Education

Source: https://yte.nghean.gov.vn/tin-chuyen-nganh/khuyen-cao-phong-chong-anh-huong-cua-o-nhiem-khong-khi-toi-suc-khoe-cong-dong-986603