Particulate matter exceeds acceptable limits in Ho Chi Minh City

Air pollution in Ho Chi Minh City has spiked to unhealthy levels over the past few days, with fine particulate matter reaching alarming levels and posing a threat to public health. The high concentration of particulate matter can be linked to an increased risk of respiratory diseases. In particular, 19.4 percent of the total suspended particulate values and 4.5 percent of the fine particulate matter indicators did not meet safety standards. PM, or particulate matter, is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Particulate matter comes from such sources as the burning of fossil fuels and waste, dust from construction projects, wildfires, and smoke from industrial parks.