10. Ambient air quality and environmental risk assessment in residential areas near industrial zones in Thanh Hoa province

Abstract

This study aims to assess the ambient air quality in residential areas located adjacent to several industrial zones in Thanh Hoa Province, as well as to evaluate associated environmental and public health risks. The assessment is based on periodic ambient air monitoring data collected from the Thanh Hoa provincial environmental monitoring program during 2024 and 2025, supplemented by field surveys. The findings reveal several critical insights. Specifically, air quality indicators in residential areas near the studied industrial zones were generally within the permissible limits set by QCVN 05:2023/BTNMT (1-hour average)-Vietnam’s national technical regulation on ambient air quality. However, daytime peak noise levels (from 06:00 to 18:00) ranged from 67,4 to 75,7 dBA, with 46,4 % of the monitoring results exceeding the allowable threshold specified in QCVN 26:2010/BTNMT. The PM₁₀ concentrations (1-hour average) varied from 69 to 102 µg/m³. Environmental risk assessment results indicated a moderate level of environmental risk, with all risk quotients (RQ)<1. The health risk index (HQ)<1, corresponding to an acceptable level of health risk. The RQ and HQ values for total suspended particulates (TSP) were significantly higher than those for gaseous pollutants such as NO₂, NH₃, H₂S, and SO₂.