Environmental Pollution in Northern Rural Areas: Air, Water, and Soil Challenges
Rural areas in northern Vietnam are grappling with escalating environmental issues, particularly air, water, and soil pollution, as a result of activities in craft villages, industrial zones, and agriculture.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's 2023 National Environmental Status Report on Rural Environments, released on Wednesday, assessed the air quality in these rural regions, home to over 61 million people, and found it generally good. However, it also identified specific hotspots of pollution.
Air Pollution Hotspots
Monitoring data indicates that northern rural areas have experienced significant declines in air quality, with PM2.5 (fine dust) levels at some stations exceeding regulatory limits by as much as 3.5 times. Northern regions consistently show higher pollution levels compared to the central, Central Highlands, and southern areas. Within the northern regions, air quality varies depending on the proximity to pollution sources.
Craft villages are identified as among the most polluted rural areas. In places like Lai Xuan Village (Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong), Phong Khe and Van Mon (Bac Ninh), and Ninh Van (Ninh Binh), dust levels in the air were found to be nearly double the standard in some locations. Specifically, the Van Mon station near the aluminum casting village of Man Xa in Bac Ninh Province has seen PM10 and PM2.5 levels consistently exceed safe limits since 2020.
Industrial zones, such as Phong Khe 2 and Lo Sung (Bac Ninh), Tang Loong (Lao Cai), and Phong Phu (Tra Vinh), have also significantly contributed to air pollution. PM2.5 levels around these zones have consistently surpassed permissible limits since 2021.
Furthermore, mineral extraction sites in northern provinces like Lao Cai and Phu Tho, as well as Da Nang and Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, have shown dust levels exceeding acceptable standards by 1.1 to 2.2 times.
Deteriorating Surface Water Quality
While surface water in many rural areas still remains suitable for aquaculture and irrigation, some regions are seeing increasing signs of pollution and degradation.
A major cause of surface water pollution is wastewater from agriculture and livestock. In 2023, monitoring in Hanoi of 387 agricultural production samples revealed 180 instances of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) pollution, 229 of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and 288 instances of nitrite contamination, among other pollutants.
Rivers in the north, such as the Ngu Huyen Khe, Cau, and Nhue, are also heavily polluted, with levels of suspended solids (TSS), COD, BOD5, ammonium, and coliform often exceeding the standards. For instance, water quality along the Dao Xa section of the Ngu Huyen Khe River and parts of the Nhue River in Hanoi were found to be poor to very poor.
In the central and Mekong Delta regions, aquaculture and seafood processing wastewater have overwhelmed natural water purification systems. In Ca Mau Province, 11 out of 14 aquaculture sites monitored failed to meet standards for dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonium, or phosphorus.
Soil Pollution Risks
Industrial waste and certain agricultural practices have led to significant soil pollution in various areas. In regions such as near the Lam Thao Chemical Plant in Phu Tho, the Phu Bai Industrial Zone in Binh Dinh, and the Lien Chieu Industrial Zone in Da Nang, agricultural lands have shown heavy metal contamination (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg) exceeding safe levels by 1.1 to 1.8 times.
Intensive farming practices have also contributed to soil acidification, reduced organic matter, phosphorus eutrophication, nitrate pollution, and pesticide residues. Furthermore, activities in craft villages and the improper disposal of plastic waste continue to threaten soil quality.
The National Environmental Status Report, published every two years by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, offers a comprehensive assessment of air, water, and soil quality. The findings of this year’s report emphasize the urgent need for effective and sustainable environmental management to protect the health and livelihoods of rural communities in Vietnam.
Source: VnExpress
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