Study of carbon monoxide exposure of workers in the outdoor workplace of Ulaanbaatar

Abstract

Introduction: Air pollution is still being one of the public health issues among environmental factors in Ulaanbaatar. Ambient annual average particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Ulaanbaatar (UB) are 27 times, carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in 50 times greater than WHO standards. Materials and Methods: Research was conducted through cross-sectional study design. Total 45 trafÏc policemen, road service staffs and gas distributors were recruited in study and CO personal samples were collected and analyzed “Occupational and Environment Hygiene” laboratory according to MNS6657:2017 methodology between November to December, 2018. Results: Carbon monoxide levels were measured at breathing zone of 45 workers. Mean levels of carbon monoxide were 1.1 mg/m3, which were not exceeding permissible levels (8 hours weighted average, permissible levels 20 mg/m3, 24 hours weighted average, permissible levels 6.6 mg/m3) set by MNS 4990:2015 standard. Highest levels were observed among trafÏc police ofÏcers. There were statistically significant differences among working groups (p=0.006). Conclusion: Carbon monoxide levels in the breathing zone of workers was lower than the standard but the police were more exposed to carbon monoxide, which may be due to the fact that they work closer to the roadside.