PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Algeria's El Tarf Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in El Tarf

El Tarf faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 558 thousand across 24 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.5µg/m³. That's 1.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 108 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If El Tarf met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.15 years longer.

That's 84K years of life stolen from 558 thousand people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in El Tarf. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.El Kala
0.2 years lost
2.Echatt
0.2 years lost
3.Souarekh
0.2 years lost
4.Ben M'Hidi
0.2 years lost
5.Ain El Assel
0.2 years lost
6.Berrihane
0.2 years lost
7.Besbes
0.2 years lost
8.El Tarf
0.2 years lost
9.Raml Souk
0.2 years lost
10.Chebaita Mokhtar
0.1 years lost

Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³

5-10 µg/m³

100%

558K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 24 Districts in El Tarf

Complete air quality data for every district in El Tarf, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Besbes	69K	6.6	0.2 years
Drean	50K	6.4	0.1 years
Ben M'Hidi	45K	6.8	0.2 years
Echatt	43K	7.2	0.2 years
El Kala	37K	7.3	0.2 years
El Tarf	32K	6.5	0.2 years
Chebaita Mokhtar	32K	6.5	0.1 years
Bouhadjar	26K	5.8	0.1 years
Bouteldja	23K	6.4	0.1 years
Ain Kerma	19K	5.8	0.1 years
Ain El Assel	19K	6.7	0.2 years
Bougous	17K	6.0	0.1 years
Asfour	17K	5.8	0.1 years
Chihani	16K	5.7	0.1 years
Zerizer	16K	6.5	0.1 years
Berrihane	15K	6.7	0.2 years
Lac Des Oiseaux	15K	6.4	0.1 years
Zitouna	13K	5.8	0.1 years
Souarekh	12K	7.0	0.2 years
Chefia	12K	5.9	0.1 years
Oued Zitoun	8K	5.3	0.0 years
El Aioun	8K	6.5	0.1 years
Hammam Ben Salah	7K	5.5	0.1 years
Raml Souk	6K	6.5	0.2 years

Showing 24 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in El Tarf is Injurious to Health.