REVIEW AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT OF THE ACID DEPOSITION MONITORING NETWORK IN VIET NAM
Abstract
Acid deposition is the precipitation of acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. The emission of air pollutants SO2 and NOx from anthropogenic activities, such as fossil fuel combustion, industrial manufacturing and oil refinery is the major cause of acid deposition. With its negative impacts on both human life and the environment, acid position has now become a major environmental issue. Currently in Viet Nam, there are several acid deposition monitoring networks managed and operated by different authorities. However, the coverage of these monitoring networks are not sufficient to provide competent authorities with data and information required for a sound air pollution control measure. The Government of Viet Nam has adopted a plan on development of national network of natural resources and environment monitoring stations in which the development of acid deposition monitoring stations is included (Prime Minister Decision 90/QD-TTg). This study implements an in-depth review and assessment of the existing acid deposition monitoring networks. Key findings of the review include: (1) Acid deposition monitoring stations in Viet Nam are operated by different research institutions and authorities serving different mandates of these authorities; (2) There is no common sampling and analysis method applied to all monitoring stations; (3) Most of the existing and planned monitoring stations are placed in the either the north or south regions and there are overlapping in some stations’locations. Based on these findings an installation of new monitoring stations was proposed.
