Thanh Pho Nam Dinh air quality map

What information can be seen on the air pollution map for Nam Dinh?

The air pollution map for Nam Dinh is accessed via the main city page and can be opened by clicking on the map. Once selected, a new page will open which is dedicated to the air quality of the city. The first thing a viewer will possibly notice is the overall background colour of the map. This is a representation of the air quality. In June 2022, the colour was greenish/yellow which indicated “Moderate” air quality. The full explanation of the various colours can be seen in the legend at the bottom of the screen. The colours range from a pale green to a dark maroon. The darker the colour, the worse the air quality. Usually, the viewer will see many coloured discs over the city which represent the position of ground-level monitoring stations, but Nam Dinh has no ground-level stations so all their data is obtained from overhead satellites. Even when the air pollution map is fully expanded, there are no discs in the vicinity.

Looking back at the main city page it can be seen that the air quality during June 2022 was “Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups” with a US AQI reading of 103. This figure is calculated by measuring up to six of the most prolific pollutants and is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is used as a standard when comparing air quality in cities all over the world. The main pollutant measured in Nam Dinh was PM2.5 with a level of 36.2 µg/m³. The target figure as recommended by the WHO is 5 µg/m³ so this level is over seven times that suggested level.

Some advice is then seen such as closing windows and doors to prevent the ingress of more polluted air. The use of an air purifier is beneficial if one is available. Strenuous outdoor exercise should be avoided until the air quality improves.

You will then see a brief weather forecast which also gives the current temperature, humidity, wind speed and air pressure. And following this forecast is the air quality index (AQI) forecast which estimates what the air quality will be for the next few days. Both the forecasts together can be useful if planning imminent travel.

What other information can be gleaned from the air quality map for Nam Dinh?

On the left-hand side of the opening screen can be seen four options which can be deselected if desired. The first choice would show the position of the ground-level monitoring stations (if there were any). The second option will show the location of any fires which are burning in the vicinity. This should be studied along with the fourth option which shows the direction the wind is blowing and will show if any ensuing smoke will affect the city or not.

The third option is quite unusual in that it colours the entire map with a representative colour of the air quality. Currently, it is a mixture of greens, yellows and browns. Once deactivated the map reverts to standard colours which some people might find easier to understand.

On the right-hand side of the screen will be seen a table showing the levels od air pollution in different cities around the world. The city listed first is the one with the poorest air quality.

Can areas of high pollution be identified on the air pollution map for Nam Dinh?

Because there are no ground-level monitoring stations, it is difficult to pinpoint specific areas of high pollution because all data collected comes via satellite. Variations in the background colour can be seen but possibly not to be heavily relied on as they appear to be somewhat schematic.

Local residents may know the position of the industrial zones which are usually more polluted than the residential areas and the city centre can often have spikes in air pollution at certain times of the day. The morning and evening rush hours usually produce a considerable amount of pollution.

Is the source of the pollution shown on the air quality map for Nam Dinh?

In the last decade, the speed of industrial development and the handicraft industry has also been accelerated, and at the same time, the problem of industrialisation and modernisation of the urbanisation process has led to many problems related to the environment. Environmental pollution has always been the negative side of rapid economic development. In Nam Dinh, the problem of environmental pollution is also setting an alarming level for environmental pollution of land, water and air. Only in recent years, the environment there has been almost destroyed quickly and the problem is getting worse. Because of the rapid growth of such industrial zones, the environment is not guaranteed, tightly controlled, rampant pollution is difficult to solve. Pollution not only occurs in industrial zones but also in traditional craft villages due to the application of industry to production, so this situation is also increasing in an increasingly negative direction.

Many craft villages create a lot of pollution due to their old-fashioned way of production and often lack of knowledge of any wrong-doings. Wood dust generated in stages such as sawing and planing is mixed with paint and solvents and escapes into the air, affecting the environment and people's health. Faced with the effects of air pollution on people's daily life and health, some craft villages have made changes to limit emissions into the environment.

PM2.5 often appears n the air quality map for Nam Dinh, but what is it?

PM2.5 refers to a category of particulate pollutant that is 2.5 microns or smaller in size. The average cross-section of a human hair is 50 microns. PM stands for “particulate matter.” Many health organisations categorize particulate matter by size because different size particles have different health effects. For instance, PM10 particles (particles less than 10 microns in size) can irritate your nose and eyes, but fewer of these particles penetrate deep into your lungs, so they do not cause the same health problems that smaller micron particles can, although they do increase rates of respiratory disease.

Particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller are considered especially dangerous to human health because they bypass many of our body’s defences. Nose hair, mucus, and other defences work to catch these smaller particles before they enter deeper into our bodies. That said, PM2.5 particles can get into our lungs, where they can reach the alveoli and eventually enter the bloodstream.