Daily Air Quality In Ulaanbaatar (July 2018-July 2019)

In the winter months, the pollutant PM2.5, consisting of fine particles, spikes to levels classified as “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index. Below are maximum, minimum and average daily readings taken at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital:

For most of the period between July 2018 and July 2019, Ulaanbaatar’s average air quality was in healthier ranges. But in the winter months, the city’s PM2.5 concentration spiked into “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” ranges, putting it in league with some of the world’s more polluted cities. (Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, both known for air pollution problems, are included below for U.S. comparison.)