Recently Mongolia has received a lot of press about mining. As more attention has focused on the densely populated country, another issue as received the attention of local and international media: the air pollution.
By many estimates, Ulaanbaatar is becoming one of most polluted cities on the face of the earth. According to a World Bank blog post, the air pollution in UB can reach 20 times the recommended PM10 levels.
The good news? Most PM10 particles can be blocked by using a simple face mask. While some companies are producing high tech, reusable masks, a simple 3M mask that an individual would wear while wood working will block a sufficient amount of PM10 particles.
If you are worried about looking foolish in the streets with your mask, don’t. First, your health is more important than your fashion. Second, with everyone bundling up in scarves to stay warm in the winter, you won’t look that unusual walking around the streets with your mouth covered.
by Jess Lampe
