On Tuesday, various stations in Hanoi recorded air quality levels deemed harmful to human health, earning the city the fourth spot on IQAir AirVisual’s list of the world’s most polluted cities. At 8:30 a.m., a station in Long Bien District reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 225 on Nguyen Van Cu Street, indicating “very unhealthy” air pollution levels affecting everyone.

Among the 16 stations operated by the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, seven recorded “unhealthy” AQI values in the 151-200 range, seven others fell in the 101-150 range, signifying air quality as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while two stations reported “moderate” levels between 51-100, and none registered in the good quality range of 0-50.

Stations on Pham Van Dong Street in Bac Tu Liem District recorded the highest AQI values at 194, while a station on Ly Thai To Street in Hoan Kiem District reported AQI levels at 184.

Among the U.S. Embassy stations in Hanoi, one at the United Nations International School of Hanoi in Tay Ho District recorded an AQI value of 270.

IQAir AirVisual, a Switzerland-based air quality monitoring facility, ranked Hanoi the fourth most polluted city globally on Tuesday, trailing behind Delhi in India, and Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan.

The Pollution Control Department highlighted recent dust pollution in various Vietnamese localities, particularly in Hanoi. Dry weather conditions have facilitated the spread of dust, and the burning of waste and agricultural remnants has contributed to increased pollution.

The department expressed concern about the worsening air quality, emphasizing the potential risks to community health and socio-economic development. Hoang Van Thuc, the department’s head, urged localities to continue monitoring air quality, release results, and advise people to take protective measures, especially during peak pollution hours from 5-7 a.m. and 2-7 p.m.