1.Personal Exposure to Fine-particle Black Carbon Air Pollution Among Schoolchildren Living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Ulzii Dashnyam ; Nicole Warburton ; Rossa Brugha ; Ichinkhorloo Tserenkh ; Enkhmaa Davaasambuu ; Shonkhuuz Enkhtur ; Bayalag Munkhuu ; Sereeter Lodoysamba ; Baigalmaa Dashdendev ; Jonathan Grigg ; David Warburton
Central Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 2015;1(1):67-74
Objectives: To measure personal exposure to air pollution in children, in Ulaanbaatar,
Mongolia. Methods: Since coal burning for domestic heating causes severe air pollution
in Ulaanbaatar, we measured personal PM2.5 exposure for children aged 5-12 years during
the winter 2013-2014. Results: Peak levels of black carbon PM2.5 exposure >200 µg/m3
between November and March varied significantly with time of day, with the highest peak
18:00-02:00, a nadir 02:00-07:00, followed by a second peak 07:00 -12:00, with another
afternoon nadir 12:00-18:00. Children living in Ger districts in a Ger or wooden house, had
the highest levels of PM2.5, >500 µg/m3
, with duration of personal peak exposure in Gers
8-fold longer than in wooden houses. Conclusion: Peak exposures in Gers were related to
going outside, fire lighting and cooking, whereas in wooden houses peak exposures were
related to going outside or opening the door. The least exposure for children was in an
apartment or school with the windows shut. Significant levels of personal exposure also
occurred during the commute to school, outside playtime, shopping trips and car rides.
Opening the window of steam heated apartments for “fresh air cooling” as well as indoor
smoking also produced important levels of personal exposure.
Result Analysis
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