Inside one of the world’s most polluted city covered by toxic smog
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The smog is caused by traffic and trash burning. Vietnam’s capital Hanoi has been covered in thick smog over recent weeks, putting it at the top of a list of the world’s most polluted cities, as the government said it would push for more electric vehicles (EVs) to alleviate the problem.
![[A motorist wearing a face mask rides a scooter on Long Bien Bridge amid heavy air pollution conditions in Hanoi on January 3, 2025]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/03/09/SEI234821488.jpg)
Levels of hazardous small particles, known as PM2.5, were measured at 266 micrograms per cubic metre in Hanoi early on Friday, the highest reading among a list of most-polluted cities, according to AirVisual, which provides independent global air pollution information via a phone app. The ratings change daily.
PM2.5 particles are floating particulate matter in the air measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less. It is so small it can be absorbed into the bloodstream upon inhalation. Short term effects:. The Southeast Asian country, a regional manufacturing hub with one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, has reported severe air pollution in its major cities for years, particularly in Hanoi.
The thick smog is mostly caused by heavy traffic, trash burning and industrial activities. Hanoi map:. “We the elderly can feel it very clearly when we suffer from respiratory problems that lead to breathing difficulties,” Luu Minh Duc, a 64-year-old resident of the city, said. “The situation seems to get worse recently.”.
