Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Air quality in the north of the country is improving,according to the Vietnam Environment Administration.

Results oftests taken for the fourth time this year show suspended particles were onlyfound in a small number of locations near industrial zones.

The airquality assessment report in the north this year was based on results of 31monitoring points in key economic regions and a number of environmentalpollution hotspots in urban areas and industrial zones.

Monitoringtook place from May 8 through to May 25 and results have just been released.

It showed alarge fluctuation in temperature and humidity on a daily basis.

Thetemperature ranged from 28.6 to 37.2 degrees Celsius whereas the relativehumidity in the air ranges from 63.7-77.2 percent.

Prevailingwind directions were southeast and northeast directions. The average wind speedis 1.0 m per second. The whole region’s weather was humid. Typically, humidityin the Nomura Hai Phong Industrial Zone sometimes rose up to 77 percent.

Monitoringresults showed two out of seven parameters exceeding permitted limits, of whicheight out of 93 values of the total suspended particle parameter exceeding theallowable limit of the Vietnam standards, accounting for 8.6 percent.

As many as83 out of 93 values of noise parameters exceeded the permissible limit,accounting for 89 percent. The remaining parameters are within the specifiedthreshold.

In general,the air environment of the northern provinces was better compared to the sameperiod observed last year. 

At monitoringpositions such as on roads and residential areas, the value of suspendedparticles decreased sharply and is within the permissible limits of the Vietnamstandards.

Most of thesurveyed places near industrial zones in Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Hanoi and Hai Duonghad suspended particle values within the permitted limits, except the Nhu QuynhIndustrial Zone in Hung Yen province and Quang Minh Industrial Zone in Vinh Phucwhere levels slightly increased and exceeded the limit.

Atintersections, the value of suspended particles decreased sharply compared withthe same period last year. All of the monitoring places had suspended particle valueswithin the limits of Vietnam's standards.

Inresidential areas, the level of suspended particle pollution decreasedcompared to 2019. The values of suspended particles in residential areas arewithin the permissible limits.

Regardingnoise, the monitoring results showed that noise in 27 out of 31 locationsreached and exceeded the permissible limit.

Comparedwith the monitoring results last year, it shows that the noise level in Maythis year was either similar or slightly less at most monitoring places./.