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.

Malawi's Mzimba Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Mzimba

Mzimba faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.4 million across 13 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 16.5µg/m³. That's 3.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 274 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 Mzimba met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.13 years longer.

That's 1.6M years of life stolen from 1.4 million 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 Mzimba. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve - Mzimb
1.2 years lost
2.Mzuzu City
1.2 years lost
3.TA Chindi
1.2 years lost
4.TA M'Mbelwa
1.2 years lost
5.Mzimba Boma
1.2 years lost
6.SC Kampingo Sibande
1.2 years lost
7.TA Mpherembe
1.1 years lost
8.TA Mzikubola
1.1 years lost
9.TA Mzukuzuku
1.1 years lost
10.SC Khosolo Gwaza Jere
1.1 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

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

100%

1.4M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 13 Districts in Mzimba

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Mzuzu City	265K	17.2	1.2 years
TA Mtwalo	218K	15.6	1.0 years
TA Chindi	218K	17.0	1.2 years
TA M'Mbelwa	182K	17.0	1.2 years
TA Mzikubola	109K	16.1	1.1 years
TA Mabulabo	102K	15.6	1.0 years
SC Kampingo Sibande	86K	16.9	1.2 years
TA Mpherembe	64K	16.4	1.1 years
SC Khosolo Gwaza Jere	59K	15.9	1.1 years
TA Mzukuzuku	51K	16.0	1.1 years
Mzimba Boma	36K	17.0	1.2 years
SC Jaravikuba Munthali	24K	15.8	1.1 years
Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve - Mzimb	40	17.6	1.2 years

Showing 13 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Mzimba is Injurious to Health.