Air pollution in Ho Chi Minh City has spiked to unhealthy levels over the past few days, with fine particulate matter reaching alarming levels and posing a threat to public health.

The high concentration of particulate matter can be linked to an increased risk of respiratory diseases. 

Air pollution monitoring data recorded by the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment in late December 2023 showed that the levels of total suspended particulate and fine particulate matter surpassed standard safety quality indices.

In particular, 19.4 percent of the total suspended particulate values and 4.5 percent of the fine particulate matter indicators did not meet safety standards.

Poor air pollution has caused a high number of hospitalizations associated with respiratory illness in the southern metropolis over the past few days, according to the municipal Center for Disease Control.

Smog and soot are putting the city on high alert for air pollution, said Le Thi Xuan Lan, a former official at the southern hydro-meteorological station.

The rise in vehicular traffic and the uptick in home construction and renovations ahead of the approaching Lunar New Year holiday, due in February, have resulted in the dispersal of dust in the air, she explained.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh, a lecturer at the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, clarified that air pollution occurs when foreign substances or significant changes in air components create contaminated air, diminishing visibility and adversely affecting public health.

PM, or particulate matter, is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.

It 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.

Exposure to particulate matter has been connected with respiratory diseases, asthma, and even cancer, with children, pregnant women, and the elderly at higher risk.

Particulate matter comes from such sources as the burning of fossil fuels and waste, dust from construction projects, wildfires, and smoke from industrial parks.

Dr. Minh suggested that people and authorities should join hands to protect the environment by refraining from burning waste and littering, growing more trees, and restricting the use of private vehicles to reduce particulate matter and promote good air quality.

Residents are advised to wear eyeglasses and face masks, mainly N95 or N99 respirator masks, when venturing out or participating in outdoor activities, apart from regularly doing exercises and eating healthily.

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