Assessing air pollution and seasonal variations in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam: A geospatial analysis of key air quality parameters (2022−2023)

Abstract

Air pollution poses a significant threat to human health, particularly in rapidly urbanizing developing countries like Vietnam. This study assessed air quality in 55 locations across Dong Nai province using periodic intermittent monitoring during the dry and rainy seasons of 2022–2023. Key air quality parameters, including total suspended particulate matter (TSP), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO), were measured. Geostatistical analysis using the Geographical Information System (GIS) and inverse distance weighting (IDW) was employed to map and predict air pollution levels. Results showed that TSP and NO₂ concentrations exceeded the annual limits of QCVN 05:2023/BTNMT, with higher levels during the dry season and an increasing trend over two years. The highest TSP concentration (202.53 μg/m³) was recorded in solid waste treatment areas in the dry season of 2023, while the lowest (25.21 μg/m³) occurred in background areas in 2022. CO levels were highest in airport areas (6126.15 μg/m³ in 2023) and lowest in solid waste treatment areas during the rainy seasons (100.00 μg/m³). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.90, p < 0.01) between noise and CO was observed, suggesting traffic as a major pollution source, though no significant correlations between other air parameters were found. This demonstrates that human activities, including traffic and daily activities, are the primary cause of the current air pollution in Dong Nai province.