Coal burning-derived SO2 and traffic-derived NO2 are associated with persistent cough and current wheezing symptoms among schoolchildren in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Abstract

BackgroundChildren in Ulaanbaatar are exposed to air pollution, but few epidemiological studies have been conducted on the effects of environmental risk factors on children’s health. Also, no studies have yet examined the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in children in suburban areas, where air quality-monitoring stations have not yet been installed. This cross-sectional study evaluated the associations between outdoor air pollution and respiratory symptoms among schoolchildren in urban and suburban districts of Ulaanbaatar.MethodsThe ATS-DLD-78 C questionnaire was used to investigate the respiratory symptoms of schoolchildren aged 6–12 years (n = 1190) who lived in one of three urban districts or a suburban district of Ulaanbaatar. In each district, the outdoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were measured at two sites (at ≤100 m and > 100 m from the nearest major road) in the 2-year period from 2015 to 2016. The associations between health outcomes and exposure to air pollutants were estimated using the multinomial logistic regression method.ResultsThe outdoor concentration of SO2 was significantly associated with persistent cough symptom (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.04–1.22). Furthermore, the outdoor concentration of NO2 was significantly associated with the current wheezing symptom (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.01–1.75) among children in urban and suburban.ConclusionsThe prevalence of persistent cough symptom was markedly high among the schoolchildren in urban/suburban districts of Ulaanbaatar. Overall, the increases in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among children might be associated with ambient air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.

Does apparent temperature modify the effects of air pollution on respiratory disease hospital admissions in an industrial area of South Africa?

“…The Highveld Priority Area, within which Secunda is located, is the home of many coal mining operations and coal fired power stations which are the main sources of SO 2 emissions. SO 2 is a gas produced by fuel combustion and one of the major sources of combustion pollution is traffic (Enkh-Undraa et al, 2019). Overall, SO 2 was associated with increased RD hospital admission during the warm periods in this study.…”

Association between household solid fuel use and tuberculosis: cross-sectional data from the Mongolian National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey

“…The indoor PM 2.5 concentration is very high in ghers and houses with stoves using semi-coke coal, with estimates of 107.0 μg/m 3 in winter months average, which is higher than the permissible concentration in the WHO air quality guidelines (i.e., not exceed 10 μg/m 3 annual mean or 25 μg/m 3 24-h mean) [ 36 ]. SO 2 is also a major pollutant from solid fuel combustion, and SO 2 from coal burning is associated with persistent cough symptoms among schoolchildren in urban and suburban Mongolia [ 37 ].…”

Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality Assessment of So2 and No2 in Suburban Schools in Imphal, Manipur

“…The mean SO 2 and NO 2 content in the indoor and outdoor air for the three schools for the entire study period were 4.9±1.5 μg m -3 and 9.2±3.0 μg m -3 . Dambajamts et al(2019). 20 reported that the two-year mean levels of SO 2 in schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia ranged between 4.4 ppb and 10.1 ppb, while the highest concentrations ranged between 36 ppb and 63 ppb.Salonen et al( 2019).…”

“…Dambajamts et al(2019). 20 reported that the two-year mean levels of SO 2 in schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia ranged between 4.4 ppb and 10.1 ppb, while the highest concentrations ranged between 36 ppb and 63 ppb.Salonen et al( 2019). 21 concluded that the average levels of NO 2 in schools ranged between 6.00 and 68.5 μg m -3 , and concentration in office environments ranged between 3.40 and 56.5 μg m -3 .…”