Air quality in Rach Gia

What is the air quality like in Rach Gia?

Rach Gia is the capital city of Kien Giang province and is located on the west coast of Vietnam on the Gulf of Thailand. It is 250 kilometres southwest of the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City. In 2018 it had a population of almost 500,000.

The air quality in December varies between 66 US AQI and 102 US AQI which are classed as “Moderate” and “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”, respectively. Levels of PM2.5 vary between 16 µg/m³and 31 µg/m³.

What are the main sources of air pollution in Rach Gia?

There are several industrial zones operating in and around Rach Gia. They include factories involved in cement production, seafood processing, packaging, fruit and vegetable processing for export, mechanical repair, building and ship repairing. The emissions produced by these factories remain largely unregulated and the filtration system which they do use are usually very old and inefficient. If, indeed, they work at all.

There are also a large number of craft villages which surprisingly contribute to air pollution in the environment. Their main occupations include weaving rattan, mat weaving, knitting, chopstick production, forging, processing pineapples, making rice balls, the production of glutinous wine and processing fish sauce. Many would think craft villages are innocuous and pose no threat to the environment. Most of the stoves used here in the production of their products use solid fuel which is often honeycomb charcoal.

Some of the large amount of garbage produced ends up in landfill sites. Whilst breaking down, methane gas is produced and escapes into the atmosphere. Methane is non-toxic on its own but can become deadly if mixed with other chemicals. It causes asphyxiation by displacing oxygen. It is considered to be a “greenhouse gas” because it absorbs heat from the sun and thus warms the atmosphere.

In 2017 there were plans put forward to build no less than 14 coal-fired power plants in the Mekong Delta. This was to satisfy the growing need for electricity as Vietnam’s industry continues to grow at an exponential rate.

What are the effects of poor air quality in Rach Gia?

Data collected from the Green Innovation and Development Centre proves that the major source of air pollution in Vietnam comes from its coal fed power plants. They are responsible for the largest sources of carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and PM2.5 particulate matter. The microscopic PM2.5 particles are considered to be the most detrimental to health, due to their size. They can easily bypass the bodies defence mechanism and are inhale deeply into the lungs where they lodge in the alveoli or tiny air sacs, found at the base of the bronchial tubes. An adult human has as many as 480 million of these cells. From here they can easily pass into the bloodstream and eventually find their way to the heart.

The most serious impact on human health due to power plant emissions which are directly responsible for many types of lung disease which can include COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, lower respiratory tract infections and lung cancer.

These soot-like pollutants can be seen falling from the sky where they can cause serious impacts on the environment. Often referred to as Black Carbon (BC) they can cause cardiovascular and respiratory problems which can even lead to premature death. It is also been regarded as a serious contender towards global warming in that is absorbs heat from the sunlight and radiates it back into the atmosphere as heat.

What can be done to reduce air pollution in Rach Gia?

There are several ways to contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution. Reducing this pollution is vital to life on Earth, human life and general well-being. The air that we breathe is filled with harmful pollutants which must be controlled.

One of the easiest and cheapest way to reduce air pollution is to walk or cycle, especially for short distances. Through not using cars or motorbikes, the air will become less polluted.

Using public transport is the next best way to help the environment, thus avoiding the use of private cars and motorcycles.

If travelling by car is absolutely necessary, try to complete all tasks in one journey instead of many small trips throughout the day. Engines run more efficiently when they are warm and therefore produce less harmful emissions. It is thought that a warm engine uses 20 per cent less fuel than a cold one.

Again, if the use of the car is unavoidable, try carpooling as a means of transporting more people at the same time, than all driving individually.

Many local governments realize the advantages of electric and hybrid vehicles and offer various incentives to encourage their purchase and use. Electric use electricity only, so they don't emit carbon when in use. Hybrid cars use both electricity and gasoline, however, hybrids are still more environmentally friendly than gasoline-powered cars as they are generally more fuel-efficient. The main drawback though is that they are often considerably more expensive than their gas-driven counterparts.

Is the air quality poor always poor in Rach Gia?

As with so many cities, the quality of the air in Rach Gia varies throughout the year. During the rainy season, the air quality is always poorer because the rain falling tends to clean the air and wash away the suspended particles.

During the dry months when the sun is at its strongest, ozone is produced when pollutants emitted by cars, power stations and refineries chemically react with each other in the presence of sunlight. Its production peaks during the hottest part of the day which is usually around lunchtime. Ground-level ozone is particularly bad for the elderly, children under 14 years of age and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Not only does it affect humans, but also sensitive vegetation, and delicate ecosystems. Forests, wildlife parks and wilderness areas can all suffer because of raised levels of ozone. It reduces the plants’ ability to photosynthesize and convert sunlight to the energy it needs to make it thrive. It also slows down the plants’ growth often causes deformities in the leaves and stems.