THE MAKING OF A SLOW ONSET DISASTER IN ULAANBAATAR:

THE AFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND THEIR ABILITY TO

RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION.

AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH TO ACTION

Presented by:

Delgerzul Lodoisamba

Environmental Health department, School of Public Health,

Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences

Oyuntuya Bayanjargal

Thesis research for a joint degree in:

Humanitarian Action and International Relations

Groningen University, NL & Ruhr University, DE

PM2.5 makes it able to penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled. Particles can have a direct physical affect and/or be absorbed into the blood.

Exposure to unhealthy levels of PM10 and PM2.5 lead to:

• Short term health problems such as bronchitis, pneumonia from respiratory illnesses, and eye infections. Pneumonia is 2nd leading cause of mortality for children less than 5 years old in Mongolia.

• Long term health problems such as chronic respiratory and heart disease, lung cancer, and damage to nerves, brain, liver and kidneys.

• Heart disease and lung cancer are responsible for nearly 70% of all air polluted related deaths in Ulaanbaatar (Allen et al., 2013).

https://www.quora.com/

Why are these small particles so harmful ?

45%

34%

10%

11%

Source contribution PM10-2.5 NRC

Soil 1

Soil 2

Combustion

Road dust

3% 5%

91%

1%

Source contribution PM10-2.5 No3

Coal combustion

Motor vehicles+Road dust

Soil

Biomass burning

14%

35% 33%

5%

3%

8% 2%

Sourse contribution PM2.5 NRC

Soil

Coal combustion 1

Coal combustion 2

Motor vehicles

Biomass burning

Road dust

Zinc

3%5%

3% 2%

87%

ContributionPM2.5 in site No3(Zuun ail)-a

Motor vehicles+Road dust

Combustion 1

Soil

Biomass burning

Combustion2

Pollution Source Apportionment

S.Lodoysamba, et.al,2011.

• Between 5.5 and 7 million people die as a result of

chronic air pollution and constant exposure to toxic air.

• 3.5 million children die annually from Acute Respiratory

Illness; 75% of these were from pneumonia brought on

by air pollution.

• Ulaanbaatar has the worst air pollution on the entire

planet.

• Half of Mongolia’s population lives in Ulaanbaatar and

approximately 10% of all deaths in Ulaanbaatar are air

pollution related (Allen et al., 2013).

• Due to air pollution premature mortality costs reached

the equivalent of 7.5 percent of GDP in 2013 in Asia.

How does Ulaanbaatar compare with other polluted cities around the world?

• Spontaneous abortions during cold winter months in Ulaanbaatar are significantly higher than during warmer summer months.

• Children are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their smaller body weight and still developing immune system.

• Lung damage affects their well-being throughout their entire lives. Air pollution related illness are 5th leading cause of childhood mortality in UB.

Robert Breen

Why should we be concerned in Mongolia?

Everyone in Ulaanbaatar is exposed to air pollution levels that are above what the WHO considers

acceptable. Elderly, pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable.

Results Annual average PM concentration in Ulaanbaatar (UB) and the 9thkhoroo in the

Sukhbaatar district from 01June 2008-31May 2009

Comparison to the Mongolian and WHO air quality guidelines.

PM concentr

ation (mg/m3)

UB average

(all 8 stations)

The 9th khoroo, Sukhbaatar district

Mongolian Air

Quality Standards (MNS

4585: 2007)

WHO Air Quality

Guidelines, 2005

Annual average

Cold period (Nov-May)

Warm Period (Jun-Oct)

РМ2.5 334.6 375.09 533.23

37.46

25 10

РМ10 388.7 719.36 1011.46

142.45

50 20

A slow-onset disaster does not emerge

from a single, distinct event, but rather

emerges gradually over time, often based

on the confluence of different events.

Aims & Objectives

• How are air pollution conditions in Ulaanbaatar

affecting children’s health and their ability to

receive a quality education?

• What are the consequences of chronic

exposure to Ulaanbaatar’s toxic air?

• Is exposure to chronically toxic air pollution in

Ulaanbaatar a violation of Mongolia’s

constitution and the UN Convention on Rights

of the Child?

Is Ulaanbaatar experiencing a slow onset disaster due to extreme air pollution conditions?

• The majority of parents believed that their children were not able to catch up on lessons missed while they were sick due to air pollution related illness. Over time chronically sick children will fall behind in learning.

• As air pollution increased there was a corresponding increase in reported air pollution related illnesses.

• In apartment districts acute tonsillitis and throat irritations were reported at higher rates than in ger districts. However in ger districts illnesses such as acute bronchitis, acute laryngitis, asthma and pneumonia were higher. Pneumonia rates were <1 per 10,000 in apartment districts while in ger district reported pneumonia rates were 217 per 10,000.

• Kindergarten aged children experienced air pollution related illnesses at rates 5 to 6 times higher than primary school aged children in both districts.

• Health care expenses and time spent caring for children rather than going to work is a burden parents have to carry.

• If all of the children living in the city are exposed to toxic air, this may be affecting the entire country for decades because they will have less education and poorer health and future generations will have to pay for this.

Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar creates the conditions that can lead up to a slow-onset disaster

Solutions

• Increase public awareness (short film)

• Increase usage of facial mask

• Use air purifier in the kindergarten classes

• Renew public transportation filter

• One role model KHOROO (improved stove, chimney filter, good insulation, heater, change the electricity meter)

• To have Clean air Act

• Law and regulation establishment and change

Thank you for your attention