Air quality in the northern region reaches unhealthy levels on Monday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The northern region continued to experience poor air quality on the morning of April 17, with private provider PAM Air declaring the conditions as "unhealthy" and "very unhealthy", potentially affecting the entire population.

PAM Air monitoring stations in Cẩm Xá Commune, Mỹ Hào District, Hưng Yên Province, reported that the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded the red-warning level, peaking at AQI 312.

The index surpassed 300, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects.

The air quality in five stations in Hà Nội, Hưng Yên, and Thái Nguyên provinces showed the AQI at purple (AQI 201-300, "very unhealthy").

Dozens of stations in some northern localities also reported the air quality index as red (AQI 151-200, 'Unhealthy'), mainly in Hà Nội and neighbouring areas.

According to the Department of Environmental Pollution Control under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the air quality in some localities is deteriorating due to fine dust particles (PM2.5).

Moreover, the current adverse weather developments, such as differences in temperature, humidity, wind direction and thermal radiation, have also affected the diffusion of air pollutants, which makes dust stay longer in the air.

The Department of Environmental Pollution Control urges local authorities to take prompt action.

Provincial and municipal environment departments must increase the frequency of air monitoring programmes.

Local authorities must focus on inspecting and supervising industrial production facilities to control emissions and ensure companies install emission monitoring systems. — VNS