Ho Chi Minh City warns of rising fine dust pollution at year-end

According to the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment, results from many years of monitoring show that from October to March each year, air quality in the city deteriorates, with PM2.5 concentrations rising sharply and posing health risks to residents.

Therefore, the municipal administration has instructed all relevant departments and units to adopt multiple simultaneous measures in line with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s guidelines and the prime minister’s directives.

The municipal Department of Construction was tasked with closely monitoring and strictly penalizing vehicles transporting goods and construction materials without proper covering, which causes dust dispersion.

Moreover, all construction investors and contractors are required to implement full dust and emission control measures, including site shielding, regular water spraying, and washing vehicles entering or leaving sites.

The municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city’s Department of Public Security, and the management boards of export processing zones, industrial parks, and high-tech zones, along with local authorities, were ordered to conduct comprehensive reviews and unannounced inspections, as well as strictly handle large industrial emitters such as cement, thermal power, and steel plants.

Facilities deemed at high risk of causing environmental pollution must be subject to inspection.

Commune and ward authorities must put an end to the illegal burning of waste and agricultural by-products like rice straw.

Residents are encouraged to reuse agricultural residues under circular economy models.

To ensure effective monitoring, the city will maintain stable operations of its automatic air quality monitoring stations, increase measurement frequency in highly polluted areas, and publish daily air quality index updates through the media, official websites, and mobile applications.

The municipal Department of Health has been assigned to provide public guidance on protecting health during periods of poor air quality, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people with chronic diseases.

All departments, agencies, and local authorities are required to report their progress on pollution control efforts to the Department of Agriculture and Environment prior to November 10 for consolidation and submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.