Hanoi (VNA) – A discussion in Hanoi on February25 called for smarter energy choices, given the impacts of coal powergeneration on air quality and air pollution’s influence on human health.

At the event, held on the occasion of the airquality awareness week, US Chargé d’Affaires to Vietnam Caryn McClelland saidcoal power affects not only the environment but also people’s livelihoods andsocial order around the plants, noting that the surrounding areas of coal-firedpower plants are impacted the most.

Statistics from the Green Innovation andDevelopment Centre (GreenID) show that emissions in the life cycle of a 1,200MWcoal-fired power plant include about 17 tonnes of lead, 1.66 tonnes of mercury,117,818 tonnes of NO2, 139,636 tonnes of SO2, and 26,182 tonnes of dust. Themost dangerous is particulate matter that is less than 2.5 micrometers indiameter (PM2.5), equivalent to only one-thirtieth of a human hair.

GreenID Director Nguy Thi Khanh said a survey ofresidents near the Duyen Hai, Vung Ang and Hai Phong thermal power plants showsthat coal power generation has seriously affected their health.

Giving further details about air pollution’sinfluence on public health, Nguyen Thi Trang Nhung, a researcher at the HanoiUniversity of Public Health, said the research team focused on children’shealth and collected data from the National Cancer Hospital and air monitoringstations from 2008 to 2014. 

Results showed that most pollutants causedrespiratory diseases in children; the possibility of disease contraction insummer is higher than in winter; the older children are, the greater they areaffected by air pollution; and boys are more vulnerable to air pollution thangirls.

For people aged 16 and above, the team studiedhospitalised cardiovascular cases in Hanoi and Quang Ninh and Phu Thoprovinces, finding that PM1 and PM2.5 are linked with cardiovascular andchronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and lead to asthma and strokes in peopleover 64 years old.

However, the studies were limited since they didnot assess long-term impacts and the number of air monitoring stations remainedlow, Nhung noted.

At the discussion, Khanh recommended that relevantministries and sectors issue policies on air environment protection such asaligning domestic emission standards with international norms, prioritisingrenewable energy development, and promoting the use of public transport andelectric vehicles.

Representatives from other non-governmentalorganisations urged the reduction of coal and fossil fuel power, thedevelopment of renewable energy, and efficient energy use.

They also called on Vietnam to be prudent in itselectricity sector development strategy until 2030, or the country could faceconsequences in terms of the environment and human health./.