HN to install additional 70 air monitoring stations
VGP – Ha Noi plans to install an additional 70 air monitoring stations to improve air quality, according to the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
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The department will work with the Consultant-AirParif Agency of France to invest in the installation of the air monitoring stations and to continue implementing the Technical Assistance Project for Assessing the Air Environment Status in Ha Noi, signed between the two agencies in 2016.
Department director Nguyen Trong Dong said the department had been operating 10 air monitoring stations funded by the Consultant-AirParif Agency. However, the stations did not entirely reflect the real air quality of the city.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung said environmental pollution remained a challenge in Ha Noi.
Slow implementation of investment projects for environmental protection, together with low public awareness of environmental protection and underdeveloped production technology, affected the environment’s quality, he said.
In addition, rapid urbanization and massive construction activities across the city, together with increasing number of vehicles, also contributed to air pollution, he said.
Monitoring results show that many areas in the city have a high level of air pollution, such as Ha Dong, Hoang Mai, Cau Giay and Tu Liem districts. The level is particularly high at craft villages.
Results from air monitoring stations show that the concentration of benzene at areas where these stations are located are 1.2-2.5 times higher than the permissible level./.
