Source: Washington Post                        Date: 29 September, 2011

Ulaanbaatar ranks among the worst cities for air pollution, according to a survey conducted by the World Health Organization. Cities in Iran, India, and Pakistan contain the worse, while some in the U.S. and Canada are among the best.WHO released the list to promote the reduction of outdoor air pollution, which is estimated to cause 1.34 million premature deaths annually. If government invested to lower pollution levels, they could reduce health care costs said the organization. The list relied upon country-reported data from the past several years.The study reveals that Ulaanbaatar has an annual average PM10x density of 279 micrograms per cubic meter.Although the causes for high pollution levels vary, rapid industrialization with the use of poor quality fuel for transportation and electricity generation are principle sources. It also found that a lack of public transport encourages consumers to buy their own cars. The sudden surge of privately owned cars and SUVs from a booming economy exacerbates air pollution.