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.

Nigeria's Delta Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Delta

Delta faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 6.3 million across 25 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 30µg/m³. That's 6.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 498 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 Delta met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.45 years longer.

That's 15.5M years of life stolen from 6.3 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 Delta. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ndokwa East
2.9 years lost
2.Warri South
2.8 years lost
3.Uvwie
2.8 years lost
4.Isoko North
2.7 years lost
5.Isoko South
2.7 years lost
6.Ndokwa West
2.7 years lost
7.Udu
2.7 years lost
8.Ughelli North
2.6 years lost
9.Okpe
2.6 years lost
10.Patani
2.6 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

17.5%

1.1M

25-35 µg/m³

82.5%

5.2M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 25 Districts in Delta

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Ughelli North	544K	31.7	2.6 years
Warri South	384K	33.4	2.8 years
Ethiope West	364K	30.1	2.5 years
Uvwie	347K	33.2	2.8 years
Isoko South	341K	32.5	2.7 years
Burutu	306K	28.1	2.3 years
Ethiope East	303K	30.8	2.5 years
Ughelli South	292K	31.1	2.6 years
Udu	291K	32.3	2.7 years
Ika South	284K	22.7	1.7 years
Ika North-East	269K	23.7	1.8 years
Ndokwa West	238K	32.5	2.7 years
Oshimili South	237K	30.2	2.5 years
Isoko North	225K	33.0	2.7 years
Ndokwa East	223K	34.2	2.9 years
Okpe	215K	31.6	2.6 years
Aniocha South	204K	24.1	1.9 years
Sapele	201K	31.0	2.5 years
Ukwuani	193K	29.1	2.4 years
Aniocha North	185K	23.0	1.8 years
Oshimili North	165K	24.7	1.9 years
Bomadi	157K	30.1	2.5 years
Warri North	157K	27.7	2.2 years
Warri South-West	109K	27.6	2.2 years
Patani	95K	31.6	2.6 years

Showing 25 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Delta is Injurious to Health.