Hanoi’s residents were unable to breathe fresh air for the past week, as the city’s air quality was at the average and bad levels, without any day recording the good level, said the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Air quality in Hanoi during the week ended December 28 at many automatic monitoring stations tended to improve thanks to weather conditions, but remained bad on some days of the week, according to the department’s Agency of Environmental Protection (EAP).

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 59 to 186 during the week.

At monitoring stations such as Trung Yen 3, Kim Lien, Tan Mai, 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 in 2/7 days at Tan Mai and Kim Lien stations, the rest was recorded at the average level. The AQI at all nine stations was at the average level (yellow) in 2/7 days.

At two traffic monitoring points in Minh Khai and Pham Van Dong wards, which usually see heavy traffic, in the week, the AQI at both stations also had some improvement. The highest readings at Minh Khai and Pham Van Dong stations were 184 and 181, respectively.

For monitoring stations such as Hoan Kiem, Hang Dau and Thanh Cong, air quality during the week all worsens to bad level, AQI at Hang Dau station was even very bad, with the highest reading hitting 186.

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

It can be seen that air quality and weather conditions during the week are closely correlated. It was mostly dry, less windy, the large difference in day and night temperature was detrimental to the diffusion of pollutants in the air, leading to the AQI hitting the bad level which adversely affects local residents’ health.

The EAP still recommended that Hanoi’s residents should follow air quality information where they are living and working before going out to prevent diseases.

Besides, sensitive groups including children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases should limit their time outdoors.

In case of going out, people should use PM2.5 dust-proof face mask which meets the standard and should travel by car or bus. In particular, pupils should not participate in outdoor activities.

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/.