Poor Air Quality and Its Association with Mortality in Ho Chi Minh City: Case Study

Abstract

Along with its rapid urban development, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in recent years has suffered a high concentration of air pollutants, especially fine particulate matters or PM2.5. A comprehensive study is required to evaluate the air quality conditions and their health impact in this city. Given the lack of adequate air quality monitoring data over a large area of the size of HCMC, an air quality modeling methodology is adopted to address the requirement. Here, by utilizing a corresponding emission inventory in combination with The Air Pollution Model-Chemical Transport Model (TAPM-CTM), the predicted concentration of air pollutants is first obtained for PM2.5, NOx, and SO2. Then by associating the pollutants exposed with the mortality rate from three causes, namely Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), cardiopulmonary, and lung cancer, the impact of air pollution on human health is obtained for this purpose. Spatial distribution has shown a high amount of pollutants concentrated in the central city with a high density of combustion vehicles (motorcycles and automobiles). In addition, a significant amount of emissions can be observed from stevedoring and harbor activities, including ferries and cargo handling equipment located along the river. Other sources such as household activities also contribute to an even distribution of emission across the city. The results of air quality modeling showed that the annual average concentrations of NO2 were higher than the standard of Vietnam National Technical Regulation on Ambient Air Quality (QCVN 05: 2013 40 µg/m3) and World Health Organization (WHO) (40 µg/m3). The annual average concentrations of PM2.5 were 23 µg/m3 and were also much higher than the WHO (10 µg/m3) standard by about 2.3 times. In terms of public health impacts, PM2.5 was found to be responsible for about 1136 deaths, while the number of mortalities from exposure to NO2 and SO2 was 172 and 89 deaths, respectively. These figures demand some stringent measures from the authorities to potentially remedy the alarming situation of air pollution in HCM City.

PM2.5 Forecast System by Using Machine Learning and WRF Model, A Case Study: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“…The PM2.5 annual mean concentration in HCM City varied 36.3 ± 13.7 μg m -3 (during March 2017-March 2018), exceeds the limit of the Vietnamese standard (25 μg m -3 ) and is considerably higher than the WHO's guideline for the PM2.5 level of 10 μg m -3 (Hien et al, 2019). In another research, the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 modeled with air emission inventory data in 2019 were 23 μg m -3 , which is higher about 2.3 times than the WHO guideline (Vu et al, 2020). Exposure to high-level concentrations of PM2.5 has a substantial impact on health and increases the risk of admission among young children in HCM City (Luong et al, 2020).…”

Mortality benefits of reduction fine particulate matter in Vietnam, 2019

“…The findings from this study showed the life expectancy at birth of the Hanoi population due to exposure to PM 2.5 had decreased by 1.8 years in 2017 (23). Research in Ho Chi Minh City also found that 1,136 premature deaths were attributed to PM 2.5 in 2017 (24). Such findings highlight the large burden of diseases due to PM 2.5 exposure in Vietnam.…”

Đánh giá rủi ro nhập viện điều trị các bệnh đường hô hấp và bệnh tim mạch do phơi nhiễm ngắn hạn O3 mặt đất tại tỉnh Đồng Nai

“…Điển hình như nghiên cứu [19] đánh giá thiệt hại sức khỏe cấp tính do PM10 phát sinh từ mỏ đá Tân Uyên ở tỉnh Bình Dương năm 2018; một kết quả từ [20] đã đánh giá sự tương tác từ tác động môi trường-sức khỏe-kinh tế do ô nhiễm PM10 ở TP. Hồ Chí Minh (HCM) tháng 10/2017; hay từ nghiên cứu [21] đã ước tính số ca tử vong sớm tại TP. HCM gây ra do phơi nhiễm dài hạn NO2, SO2 và PM2.5 trong năm 2017.…”