HCMC enjoys good air quality Friday

U.S. weather forecast service AccuWeather recorded the air quality index (AQI) in Hanoi on Friday at 65, ranking it "poor."

The service recorded a PM2.5 level of 33 µg/m3 in Hanoi on Friday. Hanoi’s AQI is forecast to be between 65 and 85 until next Monday. A higher index means worse air pollution.

In HCMC the air quality on Friday was ranked as "excellent" by AccuWeather, with the AQI at 18. The level of PM2.5 in the air was recorded at 8 µg/m3, also ranked as "excellent."

Their quality in HCMC is projected to be either "excellent" or "fair" through next Monday, with AQI forecast to be between 19-22.

Switzerland-based air quality monitoring facility IQAir AirVisual ranked Hanoi’s AQI on Friday at 99, meaning the air quality is "moderate." The PM2.5 level is recorded to be at 35.3 µg/m3, which is 7.1 times that of WHO air quality standards, according to AirVisual.

The AQI in Hanoi will range from 99 to 167 until next Thursday, which is either unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups, or simply unhealthy.

AirVisual recorded the AQI in HCMC on Friday afternoon at 29, which means a good air quality, and PM2.5 level of 7 µg/m3.

Until next Thursday, the air quality in HCMC is expected to stay at a moderate level, with the AQI ranging from 52 to 97, it said.

PM2.5 is defined as ambient airborne particulate that measures up to 2.5 microns in size, just a fraction of the width of a human hair. Their microscopic size allows these particles to be absorbed deep into the bloodstream upon inhalation, potentially causing health issues such as asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease.

Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to negative health effects like cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, and premature mortality.