Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Mongolia Faces Severe Air Pollution Crisis Affecting Children's Health

Ulaanbaatar's toxic winter smog has caused a surge in respiratory illnesses, with grassroots movements and government initiatives pushing for solutions.

Coal seller Bayarkhuu Bold delivers bags of briquettes to customers to heat their homes
Traffic also clogs Ulaanbaatar with a planned metro system long delayed
Ger dwellings sprawl in the city's suburbs, where many people use coal burners
Image

Overview

  • Ulaanbaatar's air pollution, driven by coal burning and geographic factors, has led to PM2.5 levels 27 times higher than WHO safety standards during winter.
  • Respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, are now the second leading cause of death for children under five in Mongolia.
  • Government efforts, such as switching households to gas and introducing refined coal briquettes, have shown limited success and raised new concerns like carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Grassroots movements and public petitions have emerged, calling for comprehensive, cross-sector solutions to the pollution crisis.
  • Plans to reduce pollution include transitioning 20,000 households to gas, relocating ger district residents to apartments, and constructing a long-delayed metro system by 2028.