In Hanoi, Vietnam, air pollution is not an abstract concern. It is visible in winter haze, felt during peak traffic hours, and reflected in pollution levels that frequently exceed health guidelines.
Reports indicate that Hanoi frequently experiences elevated levels of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter that measure 2.5 microns or less in diameter and are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs) often surpassing the World Health Organization’s recommended annual guideline of 5 μg/m³. In some dry months, daily levels can climb far higher, reaching ranges considered unhealthy or hazardous. Hanoi has also appeared in recent years among the most polluted major cities in global air quality rankings.
But pollution is only actionable when people can see it. For many, air quality data still feels distant—something people hear about in headlines or check on an app but do not act on or recognize as an issue worth considering. The result is a gap between what the population is breathing and the behavior that may protect their health.
In July 2024, UDS Pharmacy aimed to close this gap and make local air quality data visible at street level.
UDS Pharmacy becomes a local air quality hub
When UDS Pharmacy opened in Hanoi, it made air quality part of its health mission from day one—not as a slogan, but as actionable, digestible information for customers.
By installing IQAir’s air quality monitors at their location and displaying readings inside the store, the pharmacy turned an everyday healthcare stop into a consistent local air information point. Customers can compare outdoor conditions with the air inside the pharmacy. In a city where air quality shifts quickly, adding this local measurement and visibility helps residents interpret their air in real time.
Making neighborhood air visible in real time
At the center of UDS Pharmacy’s setup is an AirVisual outdoor air quality monitor to track particulate matter such as PM2.5, coupled with an indoor monitor to track conditions like carbon dioxide (CO₂), temperature, and humidity inside the pharmacy.
UDS makes this information public, using a large in-store screen that displays indoor readings alongside outdoor conditions, so customers can compare outdoor air quality with the air inside the pharmacy in real time.
Color-coded Air Quality Index (AQI) bands make it easier to understand when air is good, moderate, or unhealthy.
The result is simple: the air becomes visible in the same place people come for health guidance.
Turning outdoor conditions into indoor context
The pharmacy’s indoor–outdoor comparison is where data becomes practical.
When outdoor PM2.5 rises, the screen provides a cue that conditions have changed—useful for people planning errands with children, older family members, or anyone who is more sensitive to air pollution.
Scaling awareness through community participation
UDS Pharmacy has become part of IQAir’s Clean Air Facility program, which supports organizations in improving and monitoring indoor air quality and is built around a standard of indoor air that is over 90% cleaner than outdoors. Participation also helps make air quality efforts more visible—connecting real-world measurements with a broader public commitment to healthier indoor environments.
UDS’s approach suggests a replicable model. Pharmacies, clinics, and other businesses are uniquely positioned at the intersection of health and daily life. When more community sites monitor and display air quality, the value goes beyond any single storefront: patterns become easier to see—seasonal spikes, rush-hour changes, and the indoor–outdoor contrast during haze events. Over time, that kind of local visibility can help communities make more informed choices and gives public health leaders more grounded reference points for understanding how conditions shift across a city.
The takeaway
Hanoi’s air pollution challenges remain substantial. Seasonal smog, fluctuating PM2.5 levels, and recurring global rankings underscore the scale of the issue.
Yet within that context, UDS Pharmacy demonstrates a practical shift: from treating air quality as an external, uncontrollable factor to making it visible and measurable inside a community space.
By combining real-time monitoring and transparent display, the pharmacy transforms an invisible risk into accessible information. Customers can see the numbers, understand the colors, and adjust their choices accordingly.
If replicated across more community sites—pharmacies, clinics, schools, offices—such efforts could add clarity to urban air quality landscapes that often feel opaque.
