This document summarizes a presentation on the impacts of air pollution on children's health and education in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It finds that extremely high levels of particulate matter in Ulaanbaatar's air are resulting in respiratory illnesses and lost school days for children, which can negatively impact their education over time. Exposure to toxic air pollution is violating children's rights to health and education. The document argues that Ulaanbaatar is experiencing a slow-onset disaster due to its severe air pollution conditions, which are emerging gradually and affecting children's health, learning, and development. Solutions proposed include increasing public awareness, using masks and air purifiers, upgrading public transportation filters, and establishing clean air laws and regulations

1. 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

3. 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 ?

4. 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.

5. • 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?

6. • 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.

8. 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
Mongoli
an Air
Quality
Standar
ds (MNS
4585:
2007)
WHO Air
Quality
Guidelin
es, 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

9. 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?

10. • 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

11. 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

13. Thank you for your attention