Health effects of carbon monoxide exposure in ger district of Ulaanbaatar

Abstract

In Ulaanbaatar, charcoal usage has been banned and started using briquettes instead since the spring of 2019, but the number of cases of carbon monoxide poisoning has increased 2.8 times. Therefore, there is a need to determine the concentration of carbon monoxide in the indoor air of Ger district households related to the use of briquettes, to identify the factors influencing it, and to take preventive measures. In this study, 41 households in the Ger districts of Ulaanbaatar were surveyed and questionnaires were taken. Measurements to determine the concentration of carbon monoxide in the indoor air were placed at the level of human respiration or 1-1.5 meters above the kitchen area and were measured for an average of 22.6 hours in 41 households. Measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) MNS 4991: 2000 Occupational safety and health. In accordance with the requirements for method of determination of toxic substances concentration in the air of working zone the measurement is expressed in mg/m3 using a passive detector tube. The weighted average concentrations per hour were compared with the tolerances specified in the WHO guidelines. Measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) in the indoor air of 41 households yielded an average of 13.37±8.9 mg/m3, which is 2.3 times higher than the allowable level. Households that use ordinary stoves in their homes are more exposed to carbon monoxide. 19.5 percent of the surveyed households were poisoned by carbon monoxide at home.