Hanoi and many northern provinces recorded an air pollution index (AQI) exceeding 200 for the first time this winter, a warning level that causes urgent harm to the lungs and cardiovascular system.
This morning and yesterday, the monitoring system of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control recorded a sudden increase in fine dust concentration in many areas. The measuring point at the gate of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (Giai Phong Street) reported that the AQI index jumped to 210. According to the scale, levels above 200 are classified as “very bad”, causing harm to the health of all people. Station 556 Nguyen Van Cu reported an index of 201, while Khuat Duy Tien park recorded a level of 160.
Many measuring points in the Northern provinces also have bad air quality such as Thang Long 2 Industrial Park (Hung Yen) 170; Bac Giang inter-agency area 154; Former Hai Duong City People’s Committee 153; Nam Cao Park (Phu Ly) 153; Thai Binh bridge (Hung Yen) 189.
AQI is the air quality index, reflecting pollution levels from 0 to over 300; In which levels above 200 are considered harmful, everyone is at risk of being affected.
People wear masks on the streets of Hanoi. Image: Hoang Giang
Explaining the reason, Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, said that pollution usually increases from October to April of the following year. At this time, the North is affected by calm winds, fog, high humidity and little sunshine. These weather factors form a layer that prevents dust from diffusing upward, causing pollutants to be compacted close to the ground and accumulate for many days.
Assessing the health impact, doctor Doan Du Manh, Vietnam Vascular Disease Association, compared breathing street air in a morning these days to “cause as much harm as smoking two packs of cigarettes”. Fine dust penetrates deeply into the airways, damaging the lining of the trachea and bronchi and going straight into the alveoli, causing inflammation and fibrosis. The elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with underlying respiratory diseases are susceptible to recurrent sinusitis, pharyngitis, and even severe bronchopneumonia.
Not only does it damage the lungs, air pollution also attacks the cardiovascular system and eyesight. Doctor Le Ngo Minh Nhu (Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital – Facility 3) warned that fine dust sticking to the eyeball or penetrating deep into eye tissue will cause conjunctivitis and corneal damage. Microscopic dust particles also increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
The World Health Organization (WHO) calls air pollution a “silent killer”, linked to 30% of lung cancer deaths and 43% of respiratory disease deaths. Studies from the University of Chicago (USA) also show that this condition reduces average life expectancy by more than two years, a negative impact equivalent to smoking.
To protect health, experts recommend that people limit going out as much as possible. If forced to move, everyone needs to wear a specialized mask that filters fine dust and eye protection glasses. After returning home, cleaning your nose and throat with saline and washing your face will help remove dust. People should temporarily stop jogging and cycling outdoors and switch to exercising indoors to avoid inhaling large amounts of toxic gases during vigorous exercise.
Regarding nutrition, doctors advise increasing protein-rich foods, green vegetables and fruits high in vitamin C such as oranges and grapefruit to improve resistance. Measures to support lung detoxification include abdominal breathing exercises (diaphragmatic breathing) to increase oxygen intake and hot steam baths with essential oils to moisten the airways. When the body shows signs of prolonged respiratory infection, chest pain or difficulty breathing, the patient needs to immediately go to a medical facility for examination.