2024-03-05 12:10:02
The Vietnamese capital woke up to a thick fog of pollution on Tuesday, forcing its approximately nine million inhabitants to breathe toxic air. The numerous vehicles in circulation are particularly blamed.
Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, once once more wears the dunce cap of the most polluted air this Tuesday. It tops the ranking of the most polluted cities in the world, according to the Swiss company IQAir.
On Tuesday morning, the level of PM2.5 – microparticles that can enter the blood and cause cancer – was described as “very bad for health” and reached more than 24 times the limit recommended by the World Organization of Health (WHO).
Hanoi air quality index (AQI) forecast [IQAir – Capture d’écran]
In recent years, Hanoi has often been ranked among the most polluted cities on the planet, partly due to massive urbanization and the emissions produced by the large number of 2- and 4-wheel vehicles on the road.
Carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants north of Hanoi and those from agriculture make the problem worse.
“Hard to breathe”
“In the past few days, I had to wear a mask every time I went out because the air quality was so bad,” said Nguyen Minh Huong, an office worker I met in a park.
“It’s hard to breathe. I sneeze all the time, so I’ve had to limit my going out,” she added.
Last month, dozens of flights were affected by thick fog due to high humidity that enveloped Hanoi, causing a spike in air pollution and a significant drop in visibility.
Meteorologists regularly issue warnings regarding the presence of thick haze, particularly in the mountainous regions of northeastern Vietnam.
Health problems
The latest World Bank report on air pollution indicates that 40% of Hanoi residents are exposed to concentrations almost five times higher than WHO recommendations.
Many serious health problems are linked to exposure to air pollution, according to the WHO, including stroke, heart disease and lung cancer.
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