Located, some 700 metres above sea-level and surrounded by four high mountains, the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar is a top summer tourist destination – but in winter is one the world’s most polluted cities. According to researches, each person in the city inhales 317.8 kg of toxic substances annually.

Coal burning by the households of the "ger districts", mostly located on the north side of the city, contributes to the severity of air pollution in wintertime. This is hardly noticeable in the summer months. Annually, 198 thousand households in the ger districts produce 70-80 percent of all harmful emissions in the city. Because the districts are not connected to the municipal heating grid, there is no choice other than to burn coal – and since, many residents live below the poverty line, there is no choice other than buy the cheapest coal available. Power stations and households, together, burn nearly 5.9 million tonnes of coal, 237195.8 cubic metres of wood and produce 260 thousand kg toxic substance in Ulaanbaatar annually. Together with car exhaust emissions, we reach the above mentioned 317.8 kg toxic substance which is inhaled by young and old alike.

Full details of air pollution across Ulaanbaatar can be seen on the Real Time Air Quality Index at http://aqicn.org/city/ulaanbaatar/mnb/. Air pollution is rated in Particulate Matter or PM's. The rating PM 2.5 refers to tiny particles of solid or liquid matter in the atmosphere which are smaller than 2.5 microns. “PM10” is 4-7 times higher than that permitted by the Mongolian Air Quality Standards. The “Harmful dust” can cause severe respiratory illnesses and accounts disturbing infant mortality figures.

This winter is proving to be the most severe in Mongolia for a decade.