Atmospheric Pollution in Vietnam - Case Study Example

ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION IN VIETNAM (Student Name) (Course No.) (Lecturer) (University) (Date) Atmospheric Pollution in Vietnam Environment plays an important part in our every day’s life interactions and experiences. Viewed as discipline that covers all living and non-living organism, environment integrates both these organism and explain how they freely interact within the ecosystem. Environment tries to explain how interaction with the natural resources influences both the human and economic activities. The environment provides most of the resources utilized in the industrial and human activities as raw materials; therefore, it is important to ensure monitoring and proper management of these resources to ensure sustainable development. In order to ensure sustainable management of these resources, it is crucial to ensure integration of all components of environment including the biophysical, biotic, and abiotic environment (Philander, 2008, 62). Biophysical environment encompasses both biological and physical environment. As the environment provides most of the resources for developmental purposes, it also bears all the consequences of associated with the product and production processes (Robbins & Sage Publications, 2007, 141). Air pollution is one of the factors associated with production and other industrial practices. It encompasses introduction and contamination of the atmosphere with any material considered as chemical, biological, and physical agent. Moreover, these materials often have the ability to modify the natural characteristics of the atmospheric conditions (Seah, 2004, 42). Vietnam is becoming one of the countries that are leading in air pollution globally with escalating rate of environmental health related issues continuing to affect the growing pollution. Over the years, the quality of the environmental condition has deteriorated compared to other states of the world due to poor environmental laws. Globally, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of Vietnam currently stands at 79 being the lowest in the middle groups. Consequently, poor environmental conditions has been the reason the country is experiencing poor health conditions due to contamination of the rainwater by the substandard air quality. Environmental burden posed by the diseases is becoming one of the factors that are deterring the economic growth of the country. On matters relating to air quality, Vietnam is among the ten worst performing countries in world standing at number 123 with an expectation that its condition might continue to worsen if that state does not regulate the activities that pose serious threat to the atmospheric air. According to the survey conducted by the EPI, if the current situation continues, then in about five years, the number might fall to 125th place. As per the survey conducted by an independent agency in Vietnam, shows that the country reached its tolerance level and continuous pollution might result in compromising state economic development activities. The main cities in the country, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are the main areas experiencing the worst atmospheric pollution levels resulting from smokes and dusts generated by the heavy commercial trucks. (Philander, 2008, 93) Figure: Air pollution resulting from dusty material on the roads Figure 2: Pollution resulting from increased use of vehicles and motorcycles Considered as the state that has been experiencing booming economic development, Vietnam continues to experience deteriorating environmental conditions caused by unsustainable use of the resources. These effects are raising concern on the general health of the public. Pollution is a real problem affecting Vietnam. The foreigners are not the only people experiencing the negative challenge posed by atmospheric pollution, but also the local dwellers of the state who continue to complain over the dissatisfying environmental conditions. Access to cleaner environment is one of the fundamental human rights globally (Bodine, 2007, 241). Moreover, among the Millennium Development Goals, environmental sustainability is one of the issues that the guidelines clearly define. With the deadline approaching, environmental condition is becoming much of a concern considering the level of degradation some countries like Vietnam are still posing to the environment. According to the study conducted by the World Bank in 2008 on environmental issues in Asia, Vietnam emerged in the second position among the states performing very poorly in relation to environmental conservation. Being one of the country’s economic hub in the southern region, Ho Chi Minh City is experiencing atmospheric pollution beyond the permitted levels with smoke emission topping the list as the main solid pollutant emitted into the atmosphere averaging at about 0.35-0.64mg (Fleming & Johnson, 2014, 52). According to the state, road traffic is the major cause of most pollutants in the atmosphere. Poor states of the roads and reducing cost of the vehicles is making the vehicle become more affordable to the people; as a result, the jamming activities posed by increased number of vehicles of low quality, more carbon dioxide are getting into the atmosphere destabilizing the general atmospheric conditions (Robbins & Sage Publications, 2007, 185). In addition, industrial activities are also contributing in the pollution of the environment through increased use of processes, which are not sustainable. Industries are emitting gases into the atmosphere that have the ability of triggering the greenhouse effect. These gases include carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and water vapor. With increased amount of solid particles, there is increased amount of radiation absorbed by the atmosphere, which in turn results in increased atmospheric conditions. Besides temperature increment, these solid particles in the atmosphere have the ability to destroy the ozone layer, which protects the earth from radiations resulting from the ultraviolet (UV) rays (Bodine, 2007, 273). Consequently, the Vietnamese continue to suffer from health related issues resulting from these factors, which in the recent years have been drawing the attention of the global environmental activists. Acceptable risks associated with the environment ensure it falls below the defined probability, tolerated levels, and its cost of reduction exceed the costs saved. Environmental risks with higher probability occurrence index posses much danger to the minority. These risks are also known as the low risk criteria for which their environment effect is generally accepted. In addition, the acceptable risks require monitoring and managing with an objective of reducing their impact on both the people and the environment (Seah, 2004, 62). However, in some cases people tend to interact freely with these risks since they pose very low risks to the environment within a stipulated period. Acceptable risk may be either active or passive. In active acceptance, the affected communities are able to influence the decision making process while passive acceptance does not allow those affected to participate in the decision making process. In Vietnam, pollution risks especially in the major cities are acceptable. However, it is important to ensure proper monitoring to avoid escalation of the prevailing situation. In some cases, the environmentalist and the State Department of Natural Resources clearly notes that industrial emission is the major cause of air pollution (Fleming & Johnson, 2014, 26). Even though these industries are emitting the gases through the chimney, there is need to practice modern discharging methods like electrostatic precipitation that tend to reduce the amount of solids industries are discharging into the higher atmospheric levels. From the economic point of view, the state loses more than $50 million annually in a bid to combat industrial and human activities contributing to the escalating atmospheric pollutions. The amount is inclusive on the cost of treating respiratory diseases resulting from pollutions (Robbins, 2007, 52). Although technology plays an important role in ensuring there is sustainable development, in Vietnam, the citizens are paving way for the motorcycles as their main mode of transport. This paradigm continues to have serious negative consequences on the environmental conditions compared to the bicycles that initially played a significant role in the country’s transport system. In the latest ranking system conducted in 2014 with EPI, Vietnam currently is at position 10 among the 178 countries surveyed in relation to air pollution. Most countries experiencing poor atmospheric conditions exist in the continent of Asia. Apart from Vietnam, others include Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, which are the worst performing countries. Vietnam experiences generally poor environmental condition, however, in some places still exhibits good conditions. According to the health practitioners in Vietnam, most deaths occurred due to exposure of the people to polluted atmospheric conditions as the analyzed evidences points towards increased carbon monoxide, benzene, sulfur dioxide, and other fine particulate matter (Philander, 2008, 162). In relation to health issues, the country experiences about 16,000 deaths due to indoor pollutions and pulmonary diseases resulting from poor environmental conditions as per the study conducted by the World Health Organization (Robbins & Sage Publications, 2007, 205). In addition, the results points towards public transport and industrial emissions as the major sectors leading in atmospheric pollution. As environmental concern continue to rise globally, pressure continues to mount on cities like Hanoi from organizations advocating for environmental issues and domestic lobby groups with specialization in environmental related activities to establish centers that would be responsible for monitoring industrial pollution levels and integration of governmental agencies responsible for environmental protection (Fleming & Johnson, 2014,102). In addition, the lobbies groups are engaging the media and government to help enforce laws that encourage cleaner sources of fuel and to punish the defaulters in a bid to curb atmospheric pollution. In order to curb completely atmospheric pollution, it is important for the people to how atmospheric pollution influences them. In cities experiencing higher pollution rates, acid rains have been the major evident effect (Bodine, 2007, 152). This is due to increased reactions by the pollutants and the atmospheric moisture. Acid rain is responsible for destruction of most vegetative covers and buildings. The irony in Vietnam increasing pollution rates is that the level of atmospheric pollution continues to increase due to huge increase in the number of cars and motorcycles while the transport system in the public sector continues to decline. With an aim of mitigating pollution rates, the country is embracing “ride-sharing” concept that allows people to share the bikes and cars alongside other pollutants like China, Japan, and Korea. The barrier that is contributing to low rate of coining the concept is the perception the Vietnamese have that private vehicles and motorbikes signifies the level of wealth one has; as a result, most people are shunning the concept without noticing the level of impact their perception have on the atmosphere (Robbins, 2007, 162). The level of education also plays a significant role in controlling the level of atmospheric pollution. People with low education level often forms the majority of those utilizing practices that most countries considered unfriendly in relation to environmental point of view. These cohorts tend to use sources of fuels, which increases the amount of pollutants in the environment without any prior knowledge of the effects of their activities. Moreover, the level of education especially on issues relating to environmental protection therefore has a distinctive role in curbing pollution rates (Fleming & Johnson, 2014, 15/27). Business tycoons have their industries performing very well at the expense of environmental degradation. It is from this background that the government of Vietnam is enforcing the Polluter Pay Principle. The principle often requires the industries responsible for the pollution becomes responsible and bears all the cost incurred in remedying the environmental conditions. The Vietnamese also have no conscious in the protection of the environment as they presume that it is the responsibility of the government. In most cases, lack of consciousness is always evident among the youths especially those without any knowledge on the interrelationship among the physical, chemical, and biological component of the earth (Philander, 2008, 201). In developed countries, all generations consider environmental protection as their responsibility a practice that Vietnam is to imitate if it is to reduce environmental impacts posed by atmospheric pollution. The government should encourage the citizens to live green, clean, and denounce activities contributing to atmospheric pollution (Seah, 2004, 261). Another contributing factor to continuous pollution is the belief that most Vietnamese have that the environment is already pullulated; hence, not of their activity would change the prevailing environmental condition. As per the latest survey conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme, Vietnam is currently tightening the new standard for the vehicles as a way of controlling the quality of air. The country is moving towards the required 50ppm (parts per million) sulfur emissions by 2016 with an aim of meeting the Euro 4 vehicles standard emission. Moreover, it has confirmed its bid in ensuring that it moves to Euro 5 by 2021. With an aim of controlling the amount of pollutions resulting from the vehicles and motorcycles, the country is reviewing its financial measures in relation to imports of used cars. In cities considered to be experiencing higher pollution rates like Hanoi and Ho Minh City, the registration fees for the vehicles has increased in order to discourage people from buying vehicles. Strict maintenance and inspection pragrammes are also in progress. Reference Bodine, C. G., 2007. Air pollution research advances. New York, Nova Science Publishers. Fleming, J. R., & Johnson, A., 2014. Toxic airs: body, place, planet in historical perspective. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press. Source; http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=829699 Philander, S. G., 2008. Encyclopedia of global warming and climate change. Los Angeles, SAGE. Robbins, P., 2007. Encyclopedia of environment and society. Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications. Source; http://www.credoreference.com/book/sageenvsoc Seah, A., 2004. Vietnam. New York, Benchmark Books. Read More