Mongolia – Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar, one of the most polluted cities in the world and home to about half of the Mongolian population, the level of air pollution reaches an average of 687 mg / m3 of particles with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 microns per day. It is exposed to 7 times more than WHO recommended safe levels, and 3 times higher than the average annual maximum allowable level specified in the Mongolian National Standard, or 25 μg / m3. The high level of air pollution in Ulaanbaatar is due to the combination of geographical location, climatic conditions, and the heating that mainly comes from coal, which is burned both in power stations and in stoves, in the traditional Ger housing. According to health care professionals, the number of people with lung cancer is increasing year by year, making it one of the three most common cancers in Mongolia.