The perception of air pollution exposure from commuting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

With rapid industrialisation and motorisation, air pollution is a serious problem for many emerging economies in the Global South. Studies of air pollution are limited in Vietnam, especially studies about the perception of air pollution and its association with transport. Knowledge of how the public perceive pollution and their concerns about air pollution could be the missing link in garnering public support for effective sustainable transport policies and strategies (e.g. mode shift from motorised transport to active travel) that help reduce emissions. This study aims to gain insight into perceived air quality and negative impacts of exposure to air pollution while commuting. 222 respondents from 24 urban districts in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) were surveyed. Data collected include socio-demographic, travel characteristics and psychometric measures of travel-related air pollution. Air quality in HCMC is widely perceived to be poor, with most respondents reported exposure to air pollution during travel is negatively affecting their health in three different measures (affecting general health (E1), as a barrier of active travel (E2) and causing cardiovascular disease (E3)). Binary logistic regression modelling results suggest proximity to busy traffic, industrial/commercial/transport land use, old age (50 years older), higher levels of environmental concern and poor self-rated health are statistically associated to perceived health and travel impacts due to air pollution during commutes. Better environmental, transport and land use policies are urgently needed in HCMC to address air pollution. Perceptions can be managed by improving information dissemination of air pollution levels and their effects.