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Predicting ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with machine learning approaches

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 31, pages 699–708 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Accurately assessing individual ambient air pollution exposure is a crucial part of epidemiological studies looking at the adverse health effect of poor air quality. This is particularly challenging in developing countries with high levels of air pollution, mostly due to sparse monitoring networks with a lack of consistent data.

Methods

We evaluated the performance of six different machine learning algorithms in predicting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia using data between 2010 and 2018. We found that the algorithms produce robust results based on performance metrics.

Results

Random forest (RF) and gradient boosting models performed the best with leave-one-location-out cross-validated R2 of 0.82 for when using data from the entire study period. After applying tuned models on the hold-out test set, R2 increased to 0.96 for the RF and 0.90 for the gradient boosting model. We also predicted PM2.5 concentrations for each administrative area (khoroo) of the city using RF and maps of predictions show spatiotemporal variations that are in line with the location of the high-emission area (ger district), city center, and population density.

Conclusion

Our results provide evidence of the advantage and feasibility of machine learning approaches in predicting ambient PM2.5 levels in a setting with limited resources and extreme air pollution levels.

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Fig. 1: Study area and observed PM2.5.
Fig. 2: Random forest model performance.
Fig. 3: Random forest model prediction.
Fig. 4: Ranked importance of model variables.

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Acknowledgements

TE would like to express his gratitude toward Dr. David Warburton of Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Dr. Rima Habre of Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California for their support and advice. We also would like to thank Unurbat Dorj from NAMEM and Sanchir Dash from APRA for their help and support in acquiring and understanding UB air pollution data.

Funding

Doctoral training of TE was supported by the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences demonstration and education grant (1D43ES022862-01A1) between 2014 and 2017.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, United States

    Temuulen Enebish, Khang Chau & Meredith Franklin

  2. Department of Environmental Monitoring, National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Batbayar Jadamba

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  1. Temuulen Enebish
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Correspondence to Temuulen Enebish.

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Enebish, T., Chau, K., Jadamba, B. et al. Predicting ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with machine learning approaches. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 31, 699–708 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-020-0257-8

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