HCM City (VNA) – Smog that has appeared frequentlyin Ho Chi Minh City, with the most recent recorded on January 3 morning, showsthat local air pollution is now at an alarming level, an expert has said.

The warning was made by Ho Quoc Bang, head ofthe air pollution and climate change division at the Institute for Environmentand Natural Resources under the Vietnam National University – HCM City, at adiscussion on January 3.

He said traffic, construction and industrialactivities are the main causes of air pollution in cities. Traffic activities dischargenearly 85 percent of the total carbon monoxide emissions and many otherhazardous substances. Air pollution at construction sites is five or six timeshigher than the standard. These activities also produce noise that worsens airpollution.

The Centre of Hands-on Actions and Networkingfor Growth and Environment (CHANGE) said its analyses show that HCM City is thebiggest polluter in the southern region as it is home to a big number oftraffic vehicles, industrial parks and construction activities. Air pollutionin the city always peaks in the morning, which is also the rush hour.

According to HCM City’s environmental protectionsub-department, local air pollution is mainly caused by floating dust and noisefrom traffic activities. Up to 72 percent of the dust data and 97 percent ofthe noise statistics collected at 12 locations exceeded Vietnam’s standards.

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Ho Quoc Bang said air pollution ranks fourthamong the causes of premature death in the world. In Vietnam, air pollutionmakes about 1.5 million people suffer from chronicobstructive lung disease every year. Notably, in big andpopulous cities like HCM City, air pollution is currently an alarming problemfor health.

Suggesting solutions to local air pollution, hesaid the city should control motorbike exhaust emissions, replace old buseswith those using cleaner fuel, impose emissions cap on factories, and zoneareas where construction and industrial activities are banned.

Meanwhile, Le Viet Phu, a lecturer at FulbrightUniversity Vietnam, called for stricter air quality standards and an earlywarning system for air pollution to alert residents in high-risk areas.

HCM City also needs to diversify investment inenergy production, switch to non-coal energy, and encourage the use of cleanenergy like solar power, energy-saving equipment and public transport, headded.-VNA