Mortality Burden due to Exposure to Outdoor Fine Particulate Matter in Hanoi, Vietnam: Health Impact Assessment

Objective: This study reports the mortality burden due to PM2.5 exposure among adults (age >25) living in Hanoi in 2017.Methods: We applied a health impact assessment methodology with the global exposure mortality model and a PM2.5 map with 3 x 3 km resolution derived from multiple data sources.Results: The annual average PM2.5 concentration for each grid ranged from 22.1 to 37.2 mu g/m(3). The district average concentration values ranged from 26.9 to 37.2 mu g/m(3), which means that none of the 30 districts had annual average values below the Vietnam Ambient National Standard of 25 mu g/m(3). Using the Vietnam Ambient National Standard as the reference standard, we estimated that 2,696 deaths (95% CI: 2,225 to 3,158) per year were attributable to exposure to elevated PM2.5 concentrations in Hanoi. Using the Interim Target 4 value of 10 mu g/m(3) as the reference standard, the number of excess deaths attributable to elevated PM2.5 exposure was 4,760 (95% CI: 3,958-5,534).Conclusion: A significant proportion of deaths in Hanoi could be avoided by reducing air pollution concentrations to a level consistent with the Vietnam Ambient National Standard.

Automated summary

This study investigated the mortality burden due to PM2.5 exposure among adults living in Hanoi in 2017. The results showed that the PM2.5 concentrations in all districts of Hanoi exceeded the Vietnam Ambient National Standard, and a significant number of deaths could be avoided by reducing air pollution concentrations.