Abstract
Coal combustion in ger areas is the main source of ambient air pollution in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia). This study determined the characteristics of indoor PM2.5 concentrations in gers using coal stoves during winter. The study population consisted of 60 gers in the Chingeltei district of Ulaanbaatar. The indoor particle number concentration (PNC) in each ger was measured using a Dylos DC1700 particle counter for 24 h in January and February 2016. The PNC by Dylos was converted into the mass concentration using a calibration equation developed using a collocated real-time light scattering monitor adjusted by gravimetric measurement. The average 24 h PM2.5 concentration was 203.9 ± 195.1 μg/m3 in gers with traditional stoves (n = 29) and 257.5 ± 204.4 μg/m3 in those with improved stoves (n = 31). In the daily profile, concentrations were lower at night, increased in the early morning, and peaked up to noon. The temperature in gers was slightly higher than that recommended in winter. Many development-assistance programs have supported the installation of improved energy-efficient stoves. Better control measures are needed to improve the indoor air quality of gers.
Highlights
A ger is a traditional Mongolian dwelling
The calibration equation in this study of Dylos particle number concentration (PNC)-filter-weighted MicroPEM was obtained from 1st measurement during daytime study of Dylos PNC-filter-weighted MicroPEM was obtained from 1st measurement during daytime in 24 gers
The PNC values of Dylos had to be converted using the calibration equation derived from the 1st measurement
Summary
A ger is a traditional Mongolian dwelling. It is a portable, circular, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling that is equipped with a stove for heating and cooking. In suburban areas of Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city in Mongolia, hundreds of thousands of low-income families live in gers without basic urban services. Around 95% of ger households in Ulaanbaatar use coal and firewood for heating and cooking [1]. Coal combustion in gers is the main source of air pollution in Ulaanbaatar [2]. There are more than 160,000 gers in Ulaanbaatar and each burns an average of 5 tons of coal and 3 m3 of wood per year [3]
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