Tag: Mask

How Hanoi’s Streets Became Unhealthy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People are flocking to city centers all over the world, in search of better jobs in urban environments. For the people who design the roads and buildings in cities this requires significant planning. Without planning for the future, expensive mistakes can deter growth and have negative impact on housing, sanitation, education, and employment. Hanoi’s narrow streets and high tax on cars has led to an increased number of motorbike owners. This has recently led to pollution becoming dangerous to people’s health.

Emissions of all types are found in Hanoi’s air, including fine particles which lead to a large number of deaths per year. Particles (PM) as small as 2.5 micrometers lodge deep in our lungs, clogging arteries, making it harder to breathe. This irreversible effect is the reason scientists have been studying how safe it is to live in such an environment. PM10 particles are larger, and are usually in the form of dust. Blocking PM10 particles is easier than PM2.5 particles, and can be done with a simple cloth mask. Those masks however don’t block all the other particles or gasses.

There are more and more reasons coming to light that show how a city can become unhealthy.
• More people = more traffic.
• More electricity demand = more electricity production (usually without regulation, in the form of power plants).
• Smoking and cooking indoors = highly concentrated PM2.5 particles in indoor environments.
• Burning crops (called stubble burning) to make way for a new planting season = CO2 filled environment.
• Factory emissions and runoff = polluted water bodies and trash dumps.
• Dusty roads = increased dust in the air.
• Unregulated vehicles = filthy exhaust fumes in the air.

Looking at the history of the countries that now claim to have high air quality, we can see that developed countries like the U.S. went through similar pollution effects and had to fix them by developing specific regulations.

Here are some ways that we hope will slowly reduce the reasons a city is overly polluted.
• Efficient public transport solutions and use of bicycles and electric vehicles.
• Reaping the power from the sun, wind, and water.
• Regulations put in place to stop smoking indoors, and zero emission cooking stoves. Less use of Coal!
• Regulations against burning crops or stubble. As well as education of composting old crops.
• Removing factories using methods that pollute, and instead investing in factories that are able to use technology to eradicate emissions (like in the EU).
• Investment in road infrastructure and proper sidewalks, with runoff systems and sewers to deal with dust.
• Regulate vehicles to meet higher standards, and reduce poor fuel quality.

Although none of these suggestions can come into effect immediately, doing so would decrease emissions in the future. The majority of us care about our earth’s environment, but many who are not educated enough act like they don’t care. It occurs far too often that people copy those around them, following like a herd of sheep. “If they throw their trash on the ground, why shouldn’t I?”

We’re looking forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions on some of these issues.
What can each of us do to reduce the negative effects of pollution?

Why Some People Almost Always Wear A Pollution Mask

Wearing a pollution mask was never on my list of things to do. Until it became necessary. In Asia, people have become so accustomed to wearing a mask that you spot people doing anything and everything, with their pollution masks on.

Similar to the time I was on a flight from Hanoi to HCM city and a man sitting next to me wore his motorbike helmet from the check-in till long after exiting the plane, a pollution mask becomes so normal that it’s worn everywhere.

Air Pollution
scooter-1642997_1280

Air pollution in big cities is the first and foremost reason to wear a pollution mask.
People try to block all pollution in and out of buildings.

Burning

At a certain time of year, farmers burn their expired crops to make way for fertile soil and successful plantation. This is the same time of year many areas are covered in smog.

fire
Trash Burning in Hanoi

Allergies

For many people sensitive to allergies, filtering out pollen and asthma, which are caused by airborne pollen during the spring and throughout the year gives them some fresh air to breathe.

Spreading

A public act of consideration for strangers. The person wearing scooter-1642998_1280the mask is sick, and cannot stay at home. Out of respect for others the person is keeping their cold or virus to themselves! How very nice of them.

Aesthetics

Supposedly in Korea, people where masks for aesthetics. Women wear masks when they aren’t wearing makeup, or if they’re still recovering from cosmetic surgery.

Industries like energy require coal and nuclear power plants that churn out electricity in active coal-fired steam stations burn coal to produce electricity. This causes a lot of PM2.5 particle pollution in and around cities. People who have learnt that these particles and gasses can be very harmful for their lungs decide to wear a high quality filtered mask. Most people are still wearing fabric masks or surgical masks which often do not seal or remove pollutants well. Now people are starting to get higher quality filters which they know will help them to block most of the pollution.

Did you learn something new?

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