Noise and air pollution levels in Ho Chi Minh City have exceeded safety standards, putting the physical and mental well-being of the city’s residents at serious risk, according to local authorities.

Extreme air and noise pollution can lead to respiratory diseases, hearing damage, mental issues, and a general decrease in quality of life. 

Now, as the year draws to a close and Ho Chi Minh City residents' travel within the city increases, authorities fear that the resulting rise in air and noise pollution will entails serious issues for the inhabitants.

Increased pollution over New Year

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment recently reported that levels of particulate matter and noise pollution in the city have exceeded the standard safe quality index.

Currently, the particulate matter (PM2.5) in the city hovers around 21-52 µg/m3, against the local standard of 50 µg/m3.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment warned that the PM2.5 level is likely to rise as the year draws to a close and traffic, industry, and construction ramp up.

Particulate matter is essentially microscopic solids or liquid droplets in the air that are small enough to be inhaled, potentially resulting in serious health problems. 

PM is typically classified by its size, with levels of PM10, particles that measure 2.5-10 µm in diameter, and PM2.5, particles that measure 2.5 µm or less in diameter, being the most common indicators of air quality.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that noise pollution ranks slightly below air pollution in terms of ability to affect quality of life, and individuals living in areas where nighttime noise exceeds 40db are at an increased risk of health issues.

A public health crisis

According to otolaryngologist Dr. Nguyen Hai Nam, particulate matter and noise pollution that exceed safety standards double the health risks for exposed populations.

Aside from the more obvious risks of noise pollution, such as affected hearing, consistent loud noise can lead to psychological issues such as difficulty concentrating and agitation.

Dr. Nam also shared that exposure to PM2.5 has been connected with respiratory diseases, asthma, and even cancer, with children and the elderly at especially high risk.

"Breathing fine dust makes people more susceptible to respiratory diseases," Nam said.

“The situation became worse after the pandemic, when many people with respiratory issues saw their health deteriorate due to exposure to particulate matter.

"As a result, more and more people were hospitalized for respiratory diseases."

Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien, deputy director of the City Children's Hospital, said kids are particularly at risk of contracting upper respiratory tract infections, laryngitis, and even pneumonia.

Although these ailments cannot be fully attributed to particulate matter, scientific evidence shows that particulate matter plays an important role in the development of respiratory illnesses and other dangerous diseases.

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