Air Particulate Matter Pollution in Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia

Abstract

Due to increased energy demands from its rapidly growing economy and population, ambient air in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia contains some of the highest reported air particulate matter (APM) concentrations in the world. The purpose of this study is to identify major APM sources. Source apportionment is an elegant and effective way to establish baseline data for mitigation strategies that focus on reducing APM pollution. The Nuclear Research Centre at the National University of Mongolia has been conducting APM pollution studies in Ulaanbaatar since 2004. Results presented here are based on a sampling campaign from June 2008 to May 2009 at two sites in Ulaanbaatar. APM samples were collected on polycarbonate filter, in two size fractions, fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10-2.5) particulate matter. Ion beam analysis provided the elemental concentration values and receptor modeling was used to determine the sources contributing to the particulate matter pollution. The results show that the main sources of PM pollution are soil, motor vehicles, coal and wood combustion, with varying contributing amounts at each site. Source contributions to PM2.5 at a residential site were found to be: soil 47%, coal combustion 35%, motor vehicles/road dust 13% and biomass burning 4%. At the residential site it was found that the primary source contributors to PM10-2.5 were soil 71%, coal combustion 10%, and motor vehicles/road dust 19%.Source contributions to PM2.5 at a non-residential site were found to be: coal combustion 92%, motor vehicles/road dust 3%, soil 3% and biomass burning 2%. At the non-residential site it was found that the primary source contributors to PM10-2.5 were: soil 92%, motor vehicle/road dust 5% and coal combustion 3%.

Origin and Background Estimation of Sulfur Dioxide in Ulaanbaatar, 2017

“…Our findings are also similar to those of Gunchin et al, who concluded that the coal combustion source profile is dominated by black carbon (BC) and sulfur (most likely present as sulfate species), which is characteristic of high-temperature coal combustion. They also found that the contributions of coal combustion during winter to PM 2.5 levels appeared to be increasing annually [6]. We found that the average annual concentration of SO 2 was 32.43 µg/m 3 at the Amgalan station in 2017; this represents a reduction of around 40% from 2016, when the annual average SO 2 concentration at this station was 53 µg/m 3 in 2016 [25].…”

“…Accurate studies of particulate matter have been ongoing in Mongolia, as the country has been facing air pollution and other related problems. The scientific literature presented the results of air pollution source identification and air particulate mass apportionment based on measurement at two locations in Ulaanbaatar during 2008 and 2009 [6]. Since then, the source apportionment of particulate matter, especially fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), has been investigated repeatedly by Mongolian and overseas researchers.…”

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy-Metal Containing Soil Near Some Auto Service Centers of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

“…For example, the Ger area and traffic are the main pollution sources of SO2 and NO2 (Huang, Y.K.,). Moreover, the contribution of PM2.5 was sourced from soil 47%, coal combustion 35%, motor vehicles/road dust 13%, and biomass burning 4% in resident's area (Gunchin, G.,2012). Therefore, ger residents, who live near auto services centers may occur living not only the skin but also inhalation factors in the risk area due to soil pollution.…”

The Impact of the Environment on Health in Mongolia

“…Tables 1 and 2 show the prevalence and levels of exposure to common environmental risk factors in Mongolia, and associations between environmental risk factors and health outcomes among adults and children are reported in Tables 3 and 4. 3-5,11,14-41,44,45,47-49,51,54,55,58,62,66-82…”