Indicator based assessment of environmental sustainability of a metalware handicraft Village in Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

This research was conducted to assess the environmental sustainability of a metalware handicraft village in Hanoi, Vietnam, using 17 indicators across 4 components (environmental systems – S1, reducing environmental stresses – S2, reducing human vulnerability – S3, and social institutional capacity – S4). All indicators were quantified on a scale of 0–1, reflecting a range from low to high sustainability. A combination of soil and water analysis and a social survey of 67 local households was conducted. The results show that the number of water samples exceeding the allowable limits for wastewater (QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT, Column B), domestic water (QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT), groundwater (QCVN 09:2023/BTNMT), and surface water (QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT, Column B) was 13/14 (NH₄⁺), 9/14 (COD), 8/14 (BOD₅), 4/14 (PO₄³⁻), 5/14 (Fe), and 6/14 (Mn). The concentrations of heavy metals in soil were within acceptable limits for agricultural soil (QCVN 03:2023/BTNMT). The social survey results indicated high levels of household dissatisfaction with air (43%) and water quality (74.5%), which were also perceived to negatively impact human health by 67% and 81% of respondents, respectively. The environmental sustainability of the study area was calculated at 0.38 (low sustainability), in the following order: S3 (0.25) < S2 (0.26) < S4 (0.44) < S1 (0.57). Solutions in management, policy, and technology are proposed to ensure the environmental sustainability of the metalware handicraft village.