Impact of the Ambient Air PM2.5 on Cardiovascular Diseases of Ulaanbaatar Residents

Abstract

Mongolia is a landlocked country with a total land area of 1,564,116 square kilometers. The ambient annual average particulate matter (PM) concentration in Ulaanbaatar is 10-25 times greater than the Mongolian air quality standards (AQS). More than 40 percent of the nation's total population lives in Ulaanbaatar. The study aims at defining the relationship between the ambient air PM2.5 level and hospital admissions in Ulaanbaatar in 2011-2014. The pollution data included a 24-hour average PM2.5. The air was sampled daily and recorded by the national air monitoring stations located in Ulaanbaatar. The sampling frame of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) were the records of all outpatient hospitals of Ulaanbaatar. The data covered the period from January 2011 to January 2014. To test the differences of the results, appropriate statistical tests were employed. During 2011-2014, the highest concentration of PM2.5 was in the coldest period and the particulate matter level recorded was 3.7 times higher in the cold period than the warm period. The number of admissions for CVD were the highest during cold periods. Four days after exposure, the PM2.5 impact on hospital admissions weakened but there remained a positive correlation. For PM2.5, 100 μg/m 3 growth of the pollutant led to 0.65 % increase in the hospitalization for CVD on the exposure day. On the second day of exposure, 10 μg/m 3 growth of the pollutant led to 0.66 % increase; on the third day of exposure, 10 μg/m 3 growth of the pollutant led to 0.08 % increase of hospital admissions for CVD, and at the fourth day, such growth led to 0.6 % increase of CVD cases in 2011-2014 in Ulaanbaatar. In conclusion we may state that most incidences of CVD registered during the cold months in Ulaanbaatar in the last four years were a result of PM2.5 exposure. This shows that the PM2.5 exposure and hospital admissions for cardiovascular system chronic diseases are positively correlated. CVD in Ulaanbaatar residents was affected greater on the same and the third day of exposure.

Recent Improvement in Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

“…Long-time high PM concentrations present in wintertime in Ulaanbaatar are likely to have negative effects on the health of the exposed population. According to a study by Enkhjargal and Burmaajav (Enkhjargal and Burmaajav, 2015), hospitalization for cardiovascular disease increases by 0.65% on a day of exposure with 100 µg m -3 growth of PM 2.5 concentration. Additionally, it was shown that air pollution and decreased fetal wellbeing were strongly correlated (Enkhmaa et al, 2014).…”

Can Neural Networks Forecast Open Field Burning of Crop Residue in Regions with Anthropogenic Management and Control? A Case Study in Northeastern China

“…The burning of crop residue emits carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide and particulate material into the atmosphere [1], resulting in regional haze and environmental pollution. In addition, when these pollutants are in high concentrations, they will affect climate change and pose a great challenge for regional air quality, potentially leading to an increase in the rate of human cardiovascular and respiratory diseases [2,3]. With the rapid industrialization and modernization in China, fossil fuel consumption in rural regions has increased, and domestic biofuel usage has decreased; until 2018, the demand for fossil fuels accounted for 80% of all energy [4].…”

Chemical Composition Analysis, Indoor Diffusion Deposition Model and Pathogenic Mechanism of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

“…A recent study based on data analysis from 3,080 counties revealed that each 1 µg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 causes approximately an 8% increase in the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 death rate (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2%, 15%). 8 Enkhjargal et al 9 summarized that each 10 µg/ m 3 increase of PM 2.5 led to a 0.65% increase in the hospitalization for cardiovascular disease (CVD) on the day of exposure, and on the second day of exposure, a 10 µg/m 3 growth of the pollutant contributed to 0.66% increase. 9 PM 2.5 also imposes a burden on the economy and society.…”

“…8 Enkhjargal et al 9 summarized that each 10 µg/ m 3 increase of PM 2.5 led to a 0.65% increase in the hospitalization for cardiovascular disease (CVD) on the day of exposure, and on the second day of exposure, a 10 µg/m 3 growth of the pollutant contributed to 0.66% increase. 9 PM 2.5 also imposes a burden on the economy and society. It was estimated that a mean reduction in PM 2.5 of 3.9 µg/m 3 would prevent 7,978 heart failure hospitalizations and save one-third of a billion US dollars per year.…”