Dear ISHCMC Parents,

I am often asked why we record the pollutions levels, stop outdoor play, bring the swimmers out of the pool, spend so much on air filtering machinery when other schools aren't doing the same, and it doesn't look as bad as China. Well the answer is very easy; we care about your sons and daughters health and the type of pollution in HCMC is the smallest particle pollution at PM 2.5 and is very dangerous. We are fortunate that the sun usually burns off this pollution by 10:00 am and the pollution figures drop to reasonable levels. However, ignoring the early morning pollution levels would be doing you a dis-service and research, such as that reported in this article from the UK , clearly shows that we should not be ignoring this threat to the health and well being of our children. Hence we are fortunate at ISHCMC that a large proportion of our school is now protected from this type of pollution.

"Tiny particles of air pollution can damage the inner lining of veins and arteries in young and healthy people, putting them at greater risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, according to new research.

Air pollution is thought to cause the premature deaths of about 40,000 people a year in the UK, with children and older people with medical conditions thought to be the most at risk.But the new study suggests that healthy people in their twenties are also being harmed by the particles.The World Health Organisation has warned that air pollution is “wreaking havoc on human health” amid rising scientific evidence about the dangers."

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/air-pollution-tiny-particles-fossil-fuels-arteries-lungs-heart-disease-stroke-a7380106.html