Characterization of Pm2.5 and Pm10 Air Pollution Ulaanbaatar City

Abstract:

Results of 2006-2007 PM2.5 and PM10 aerosol pollution study of Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia is been presented. PM2.5 and PM10 aerosol fractions have been measured twice a week at the Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar city for 2006-2007. Weight of the samples and Black carbon were determined at the Nuclear Research Center(NRC), National University of Mongolia. Elemental analysis has been performed at the New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences using PIXE analysis. It includes F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Sr, Ba, I, Hg, Pb. Pollution source identification and its apportionment is been done at the NRC. Main pollution sources in Ulaanbaatar city is combustion (35-60%), soil erosion (20-50%) and auto vehicles (9-13%). Average concentration of PM10 is 147 ug/m3 in winter and 72-80 ug/m3 in summer, PM2.5 is 41-52 ug/m3 in winter and 12-18 ug/m3 summer season.

Keywords: PM2.5, PM10, aerosols, particle characterization, Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar City