Ho Chi Minh City publishes air, water quality readings on public notice boards
TUOI TRE NEWS
UPDATED : 04/10/2017 16:46 GMT + 7
Motorcyclists wear face masks as air pollution gets worse in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tuoi Tre
A network of 53 outdoor LED notice boards installed across Ho Chi Minh City will allow residents to monitor the city’s real-time air and water quality readings, starting on Monday.
The announcement was made by Le Minh Triet, director of the Saigon River Tunnel Management Center, who said the move was part of the city’s effort to improve citizens’ access to information regarding the quality of their living environment.
According to Triet, the notice boards will display readings on noise pollution, the level of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide in the air, as well as the water quality of rivers and canals across the city.
The readings will be color-coded, with red numbers illustrating excessive levels of a pollutant, while green numbers will indicate no presence of any hazardous materials.
Results will be provided by the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and each notice board will show readings of air and water quality in the immediate vicinity.
Triet said the launch of the program is expected to have a positive impact on the awareness of locals about environmental issues, and encourage the community to actively protect the environment.
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are among the world’s worst polluted cities, with pollution readings reported at alarming levels during 2016.
Odor and air pollution in the southern hub have worsened on a daily basis, resulting in a rising number of locals being hospitalized for respiratory illnesses arising from their regular exposure to contaminants.