Hanoi’s residents were able to breathe fresh air on some weekdays of the past week, as the city’s air quality improved considerably thanks to less traffic flow, without any day recording the very bad level, according to a report by the department’s Agency of Environmental Protection (EAP).

Air quality in Hanoi during the week ended February 1 at many automatic monitoring stations tended to improve thanks to weather conditions and fewer vehicles in motion, but remained bad on some days of the week after people returned to the city after the one-week Tet break. 

Air quality index (AQI) at the monitoring stations. Source: AEP

The agency said that Hanoi’s air quality index (AQI) measured at 10 monitoring stations in the city ranged from 11 to 142 during the week.

At monitoring stations such as Hoan Kiem, Kim Lien, My Dinh and Tay Mo, in the past week, the AQI was better than the previous week. Specifically, AQI at none of the stations reached the unhealthy level. The index was at the bad level on 4/7 days at four above-mentioned stations, the rest was recorded at the good and average levels. The AQI at all ten stations was at the good level (green) on 2/7 days.

At two traffic monitoring points in Minh Khai and Pham Van Dong wards, which usually see heavy traffic, the AQI at both stations also had some improvement in the week. The highest readings at Minh Khai and Pham Van Dong stations were 142 and 125, respectively.

Percentage of days with air quality at different levels. Source: AEP

For monitoring stations such as Hang Dau and Thanh Cong, air quality during the week all improved considerably, with good AQI on 2/7 days.

It can be seen that air quality and weather conditions during the week are closely correlated.

The EAP still recommended that groups with sensitive health including children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases, should limit their time outdoors.

When travelling on roads, people need to strictly follow traffic laws to reduce traffic congestion.

People should reduce activities that cause air pollution such as burning waste, cooking by charcoal stoves, transporting construction waste without shielding.

Information on the capital city’s air quality is continuously updated at the website: https://moitruongthudo.vn/ and https://airhanoi.hanoi.gov.vn/.