It is a shocking number that almost everyone is breathing in a harmful air environment. In the statement published on Monday by the U.N global health organisation, 99% of the global population breathe the air that does not meet their standards.
Due to the lack of regulation and rapid growing industries, people in low- and middle-income countries are exposed to the highest levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. High atmospheric pollution levels can cause immediate health problems , including scared cardiovascular and respiratory disease, heart and lung tension need to work in difficulty to provide the body with oxygen, damaged cell in respiratory system. More seriously, long-term exposure to contaminated air can affect the following permanent health, including lung aging, lost lung loss and lung function reduction, the development of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, possibly cancer and a shortened lifespan.
Vietnam is currently ranked 36th out of 118 countries in term of air pollution. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the places with the heaviest air pollution in the country, there are times when fine dust (PM 2.5) covers the whole sky, limiting visibility, greatly affecting people's health.
As of February 2020, Vietnam has nearly 3.6 million cars and more than 45 million motorbikes. These vehicles are the biggest cause of air pollution in our country. From 2010 to 2017, the concentration of PM2.5 dust has always tended to increase sharply. From 2019 to now, the peak of air pollution has occurred very often in big cities across the country. Typically Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The daily air quality index (AQI) in these cities fluctuates between 150-200, which is a very dangerous alarm level.
In the first and second quarters of 2021, the air pollution in two big cities of our country, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, has improved remarkably. Specifically, the AQI calculation results of both cities remained at low and medium levels. The main reason is due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic. During the epidemic, due to the implementation of social isolation, the traffic volume of vehicles has decreased significantly.