Application of an Ultra-Low-Cost Passive Sampler for Light-Absorbing Carbon in Mongolia.

Low-cost, long-term measures of air pollution concentrations are often needed for epidemiological studies and policy analyses of household air pollution. The Washington passive sampler (WPS), an ultra-low-cost method for measuring the long-term average levels of light-absorbing carbon (LAC) air pollution, uses digital images to measure the changes in the reflectance of a passively exposed paper filter. A prior publication on WPS reported high precision and reproducibility.

Characteristics of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor PM of households in the Southwest part of Ulaanbaatar capital, Mongolia.

Air pollution, including PM concentration in Ulaanbaatar (capital of Mongolia) is a serious matter of concern. As the majority of households use coal in large areas of the city, indoor air quality is also posing a serious risk to human health. This study investigated the concentration of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) in indoor particulate matter (PM) in 10 non-smoker households.

Coal smoke, gestational cadmium exposure, and fetal growth.

Background: Gestational cadmium exposure may impair fetal growth. Coal smoke has largely been unexplored as a source of cadmium exposure. We investigated the relationship between gestational cadmium exposure and fetal growth, and assessed coal smoke as a potential source of airborne cadmium, among non-smoking pregnant women in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where coal combustion in home heating stoves is a major source of outdoor and indoor air pollution.

Evaluation of random forest regression and multiple linear regression for predicting indoor fine particulate matter concentrations in a highly polluted city.

Background: Indoor and outdoor fine particulate matter (PM) are both leading risk factors for death and disease, but making indoor measurements is often infeasible for large study populations.

Methods: We developed models to predict indoor PM concentrations for pregnant women who were part of a randomized controlled trial of portable air cleaners in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. We used multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest regression (RFR) to model indoor PM concentrations with 447 independent 7-day PM measurements and 87 potential predictor variables obtained from outdoor monitoring data, questionnaires, home assessments, and geographic data sets.

The effect of portable HEPA filter air cleaner use during pregnancy on fetal growth: The UGAAR randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fine particulate matter (PM) exposure may impair fetal growth.

Aims/objectives: Our aim was to assess the effect of portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air cleaner use during pregnancy on fetal growth.

Methods: The Ulaanbaatar Gestation and Air Pollution Research (UGAAR) study is a single-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The effect of portable HEPA filter air cleaners on indoor PM concentrations and second hand tobacco smoke exposure among pregnant women in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: The UGAAR randomized controlled trial.

Background: Portable HEPA filter air cleaners can reduce indoor fine particulate matter (PM), but their use has not been adequately evaluated in high pollution settings. We assessed air cleaner effectiveness in reducing indoor residential PM and second hand smoke (SHS) exposures among non-smoking pregnant women in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Methods: We randomized 540 participants to an intervention group receiving 1 or 2 HEPA filter air cleaners or a control group receiving no air cleaners.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus and risk of cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objective: Previous observational studies have focused on the link between type 2 diabetes and the risk of cancer. However, the association between type 1 diabetes and the risk of cancer has not been well addressed. This study aimed to investigate the association between type 1 diabetes and the risk of cancer by using a meta-analysis of observational studies.