Vietnam Records 60,000 Deaths Linked to Air Pollution/Year: WHO

Air pollution is blamed for approximately 60,000 deaths in Vietnam annually, state media reported, citing findings by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Le Viet Phu from Fulbright University Vietnam said that the figure is five times higher than the annual deaths from traffic accidents at around 12,000 people. He estimated that Vietnam annually loses 5%-7% of its gross domestic product (GDP) due to deaths from air pollution-related diseases. The national broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) said that nine among every ten people in Vietnam breathe in air with high-level pollutants, especially the particulate matter with 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5), which can cause chronic respiratory diseases. In recent days, the air quality of Vietnam’s two biggest cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has reached the alarming levels, state media said. In the morning of September 26, the air quality index of Hanoi was recorded at 240 by AirVisual. The organization said the index was the highest globally. However, the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment rejected the information, saying that AirVisual took data only from the station at the U.S. Embassy, which is located in an area with wide roads and many construction sites. (RFAVietnamese, VTVgo, VietnamNet, MSN, Giao Duc Thoi Dai, Thanh Nien, news.zing, Thanh Nien, VTV, SGGP, SGGPnews)