Health impact assessment of ambient air pm2.5 and pm10 of Ulaanbaatar city / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

ABSTRACT

Air pollution is an increasingly serious problem in Mongolia, especially in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan and several other urban areas.The goalThe goal of this study is to determine the relationships between air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and SO2) and meteorological parameters (average temperature, humidity, and wind speed) and respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of all secondary level and tertiary level hospitals of Ulaanbaatar and 8 primary level hospitals. This is a cross sectional study using secondary air quality and hospital morbidity and mortality data.Material and Methods:Sampling unit is a total number morbidity of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases at the selected study hospitals, number of mortality of the selected II and III level hospitals. Data were collected during 1 year and 5 days or 370 days from 1 June 2008 to 5 of June 2009. Hospital morbidity and mortality admission data were obtained from each hospitals statistic department. Daily data of FGPs were collected manually by data collectors in accordance with scheduled date. Emergency data was also been obtained from the City emergency center.Results:The daily concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 had exceeded the MNAAQS mainly in the winter months from November to February. The correlation mainly between respiratory and cardiovascular disease case admissions with meteorological parameters is because the cold winter conditions in Ulaanbaatar result in the accumulation of pollutants in the atmosphere. Thus, population exposure to air pollution is increase significantly during winter months. Based on recent study result, during winter 1 out of 2 diseases admission case of respiratory system disease caused due to average temperature, relative humidity, NO2, and PM10 and cardiovascular disease also caused due to relative humidity, NO2, and PM10 level. So thus, not only fuel based pollutants but also vehicle related pollutants and meteorological conditions also causing onset of cardiovascular and respiratory system disease. Children under 15 years old are more likely get admitted to the hospital due to respiratory system disease cases whereas cardiovascular disease admission more registered among older age group of people. In addition, residents of ger area are more visited to the FGPs than the residents of apartment area.Conclusions:1. The correlation mainly between respiratory and cardiovascular disease case admissions with meteorological parameters is because the cold winter conditions in Ulaanbaatar result in the accumulation of pollutants in the atmosphere.2. Population exposure to air pollution is increase significantly during winter months.3. During winter 1 out of 2 diseases of respiratory system disease caused due to average temperature, relative humidity, NO2, and PM10 and cardiovascular disease also caused due to relative humidity, NO2, and PM10 level.