Hanoi air quality map

Does the air quality map for Hanoi indicate the current level of air pollution?

These maps are interactive and use coloured circles to indicate the level of pollution measured at that particular station. The circles themselves are colour-coded with a brief indication as to what the level of pollution is. The colours range from pale green for good air quality to dark maroon which indicates extremely poor-quality air. The worst! For more in-depth information, click on the chosen dot which will expand the screen to include specific information as to that area of the city. This may help anybody who is planning on travelling to another area as to what level of pollution to expect on arrival.

Towards the foot of the page, underneath the air quality map, all the stations are listed together with their current level of pollution.

What other information can be found on the air pollution map for Hanoi?

At the bottom left of the map screen, there are four categories listed. By selecting each one, you have the choice to turn that information on or off.

The air monitors are indicated by the coloured circles, each showing the level of pollution with the US AQI figure shown in the centre. The higher the figure, the more pollution is present. The significance of the various colours is shown at the foot of the page. The fire symbol will highlight if and when there are any wildfires raging in the vicinity as these can add a considerable amount of pollution to the area, especially if the wind is blowing from the direction of the fire. This symbol is also represented on the air pollution map.

By selecting a certain circle on the map, the information contained within will show the current level of PM2.5 and also give the latest US AQI reading. This number is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and can be used to compare the air quality in cities throughout the world. It is calculated by using the measured levels of the six most commonly found pollutants. These are generally regarded as being nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, which are PM2.5 and PM10. If measurements for all six figures are not available, a level can still be calculated by using what data there is.

The general public is becoming more and more aware of air pollution and the detrimental effects it has on certain individuals. Certain groups of people are affected more than others and it is for these people that these air pollution maps for Hanoi will prove most beneficial.

Because of raised public interest in the quality of the air that is breathed, new stations are being added to the bigger cities.

Does the air pollution map for Hanoi indicate where the worst air quality is?

A close study of the map will certainly reveal where the areas of high pollution are. Local people who know their area will recognise these areas of high pollutants to be the industrial zones mainly found outside the suburbs, but due to poor planning some could also be found in residential areas. They would have been built in their present location but the residential area would have subsequently grown around them. Private industry is encouraged to relocate to newly created industrial parks outside the city limits. This in itself would reduce the need for their employees to travel into the city which in turn will lessen the amount of traffic there, thus improving air quality.

Does the air quality map for Hanoi show how polluted the city is?

The web page that shows the air quality map for Hanoi is very comprehensive. It lists the most polluted air quality stations and uses the same colour-coding as the maps to show the intensity of the pollution. It also shows how many people follow the individual stations to enable them to keep abreast of the current situation.

As this information is constantly updated it is very useful to determine which areas of the city to avoid. This is particularly important if you or a family member is susceptible to poor air quality. Many pre-existing respiratory diseases are exacerbated by higher levels of air pollution.

There is a lot of extra information contained within the page which can easily be accessed by selecting a station which will then open up an entire new page, filled with information for that local area.

By checking the air quality map for Hanoi on a regular basis, any trends will soon stand out as to which areas become more polluted than others. This can be very important when considering where to live within the city. The more vulnerable may even consider moving to a cleaner area for the sake of their health.

Parents who have children who play outside should find it interesting to see how clean the area is where their child is playing. There are so many reasons to consult the air quality map for Hanoi.

The air pollution map for Hanoi often shows levels of PM2.5, but what is PM2.5?

PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope. These particles come in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals.

Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires.

Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles.

Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Some particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream. Of these, particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, also known as fine particles or PM2.5, pose the greatest risk to health.