UB Citizens: Let’s get addicted to air
quality data
Christa HasenkopfNSF-International Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Colorado| National University of Mongolia
Photo Credit: Lauren Knapp
December 2011
November 2012
Photo Credit: Soyee Chiu
IWAM8 Jan 2013
What is Particulate Matter?
Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve Research Camp, April 2005
DustVolcanoes
Mt. St. Helens, 1980
Combustion Sources
Bacteria
Bioaerosol
Fine Human Hair
PM comes in a range of sizes
PM10 (Diameter ≤ 10μm)
PM2.5 (Diameter ≤ 2.5μm)
~ 50 μm
PM and Health Effects
Very large > PM10
Coarse PM: PM2.5 < PM ≤ PM10
Fine PM: ≤ PM2.5
WHO estimates the total number of PM-related
deaths to be approximately 3.3 million/year world-wide.
More than malaria + AIDS, combined.
UB air pollution
From 2011 WHO Outdoor Air Pollution Database and Dec 2011 WB report: Air Quality Analysis of Ulaanbaatar
UB air pollution
From 2011 WHO Outdoor Air Pollution Database and Dec 2011 WB report: Air Quality Analysis of Ulaanbaatar
According to 2011 WHO Outdoor PM10 survey,
Ulaanbaatar is 2nd most PM10-polluted city in the world.
UB air pollution
From 2011 WHO Outdoor Air Pollution Database and Dec 2011 WB report: Air Quality Analysis of Ulaanbaatar
UB air pollution
From 2011 WHO Outdoor Air Pollution Database and Dec 2011 WB report: Air Quality Analysis of Ulaanbaatar
Est. range of annual deaths in UB caused by PM (Allen et al., 2011 and World Bank 2011 ).
Human Impacts By the Numbers10-25%
$500 million
Est. annual amount (in USD) lost from UB economy due to PM - 20% of UB’s 2008 GDP (World Bank 2011).
My Research Questions:
What is UB PM made of?What are the major sources of UB PM?How does black carbon change with time?
How does UB PM affect regional climate?
PEER UB Air Pollution Team:
Dr. Dagva Shagjjamba
Ms. Gerelmaa Gunchin
Ms. Bulgansaikhan BaldorjMr. Amanjol
Ms. Delgerzul Lodoisamba
Kindergarten #69 Staff
Enkhiin SanaaFamily Hospital Staff
Prof. Lodoysamba
** However, the project I am about to describe is NOT FUNDED by NSF,
USAID, or Fulbright.
It is a public outreach initiative.
It and has been done on free time because we feel it is IMPORTANT.**
Sharing Air Quality Data (and basics) through Social Media
Public awareness MATTERS!
(1) ACCESS to timely AQ data can help the public make informed health decisions.
(2) ACCESS to the available AQ data and basics EMPOWERS UB’ers to focus more effort on air quality monitoring.
Mitigation measures are just half of the equation….
New Stoves
Ger Apts Alt. Fuels
Electric Stoves
Modifying Ignition
Long-term, successful pollution reduction is feedback cycle:
Mitigation Measures
Air quality monitoringAnd the public can influence strengthening
this cycle in UB!
Ulaanbaatar Air Qualityon Facebook
@UB_Air on twitter
UB Air Quality in Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/UBAirQuality
Have more questions? Tweet @UB_Air, check out
UBAirPollution.org, or post a question on the Facebook Page:
“УБ Aгаарын Чанарын Мэдээ/UB Air Quality Info!”
Tweet and Facebook post BREAKDOWN:Posts at 9 am, 2pm, and 7pm
Simple Infographics
Interact with the public on air pollution issues
People ask questions
We share people getting involved in air pollution activities (like UBASC)
People share information
How the public access to data shapes air quality monitoring
PM10 PM2.5
= just 0.12% of Beijing’s population.
More transparent data
How the public access to data shapes UB air quality monitoring
Within ~10 weeks of having these sites running and because of the show of public support:
- Received international and local media attention
- Received grant from OT in the past few weeks four OWN instrument
- Met with community leaders to discuss air quality
The PUBLIC has influenced this cycle!
Mitigation Measures
Air quality monitoringBut this needs to just be the beginning…
What can YOU do?
https://www.facebook.com/UBAirQuality
(1) Get informed and involved. “Like” ‘Ulaanbaatar Air Quality’ on FB and follow
@UB_Air on Twitter.
What can YOU do?(2) Invite UBASC to give a talk about this topic at
your organization.
Want to get more involved withLET US KNOW!
THANKS!
https://www.facebook.com/UBAirQuality@UB_Air on Twitter
PM MASKS
What can YOU do?(3) Request better, quality, rated masks in UB
pharmacies. But wait...how??
Surgical Masks: Designed to keep the wearer from spreading germs to others and protect the wearer from splashing fluids.
Cough Spray
Mas
k W
eare
rHow do Masks work?
Typical Surgical Masks
Cough Spray
Dried Cough Spray
They are not designed to protect the wearer from germs!
Mas
k W
eare
rM
ask Wearer
Surgical Masks: Designed to keep the wearer from spreading germs to others and protect the wearer from splashing fluids.
Surgical Masks are not designed to protect the wearer from PM!
Surgical Masks vs. PM Masks
PM2.5
Mas
k W
eare
r
Mas
k W
eare
r PM2.5
It is rated by an internationally-accepted standard- Ex: “N95” rating by the USA: has been
Certified by an independent lab toRemove 95% of PM 0.3 microns and larger(so covers PM2.5 and PM10)
How do you know a PM mask works?
Does it fit well?
Vague/non-specific statements like “removes smoke and dust” etc. do not help you evaluate how effective a mask is.
The masks we’re handing out:
3M masks, ordered through Amazon.com
~1000-2000 Tugriks per mask
Recommended: Wear up to 2 weeks
What can YOU do?(3) Request better, quality, rated masks in UB
pharmacies…by explaining you want RATED masks to pharmacies. Show them the one we hand out
today as an example!
More Resources:• City AQ data: http://www.ub-air.info/ub-air/laq/average-
24h.html• Compendium of UB AQ info/resources:http://ubairpollution.org/
Article on WHY getting the public involved in AQ is important:In English: http://tedxulaanbaatar.com/#!/ub-citizens-get-addicted-to-the-data
In Mongolian: https://www.facebook.com/UBAirQuality/notes (Thanks to Enke G. and Gerelmaa G. for translating!)
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