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 Ondo Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Ondo

Ondo faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 4.9 million across 18 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 23.1µg/m³. That's 4.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 383 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 Ondo met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.77 years longer.

That's 8.6M years of life stolen from 4.9 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 Ondo. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Irele
2 years lost
2.Ese-Odo
2 years lost
3.Okitipupa
2 years lost
4.Ilaje
2 years lost
5.Akure South
1.8 years lost
6.Odigbo
1.8 years lost
7.Ifedore
1.8 years lost
8.Akure North
1.8 years lost
9.Idanre
1.8 years lost
10.Ondo West
1.7 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

84.4%

4.1M

25-35 µg/m³

15.6%

760K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 18 Districts in Ondo

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Akure South	497K	23.9	1.8 years
Ilaje	431K	24.9	2.0 years
Okitipupa	359K	25.4	2.0 years
Odigbo	359K	23.7	1.8 years
Akoko North-West	347K	21.9	1.7 years
Akoko South-West	329K	20.9	1.6 years
Owo	321K	21.4	1.6 years
Akoko North-East	287K	21.8	1.6 years
Ondo West	286K	22.8	1.7 years
Akure North	269K	23.3	1.8 years
Ifedore	254K	23.4	1.8 years
Ose	219K	20.3	1.5 years
Idanre	204K	23.2	1.8 years
Ese-Odo	203K	25.4	2.0 years
Irele	197K	25.7	2.0 years
Akoko South-East	140K	21.4	1.6 years
Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo	102K	22.4	1.7 years
Ondo East	73K	21.9	1.7 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Ondo is Injurious to Health.