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 Plateau Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Plateau

Plateau faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 4.9 million across 17 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 29.5µg/m³. That's 5.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 489 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 Plateau met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.4 years longer.

That's 11.7M 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 Plateau. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Bokkos
2.7 years lost
2.Riyom
2.6 years lost
3.Langtang South
2.5 years lost
4.Shendam
2.5 years lost
5.Barkin Ladi
2.5 years lost
6.Wase
2.5 years lost
7.Qua'an Pan
2.5 years lost
8.Jos South
2.5 years lost
9.Mangu
2.4 years lost
10.Jos North
2.4 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

25-35 µg/m³

100%

4.9M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 17 Districts in Plateau

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Jos North	826K	29.4	2.4 years
Mangu	468K	30.0	2.4 years
Wase	345K	30.2	2.5 years
Shendam	317K	31.0	2.5 years
Jos South	306K	30.1	2.5 years
Qua'an Pan	296K	30.1	2.5 years
Kanam	291K	25.3	2.0 years
Kanke	277K	27.5	2.2 years
Bassa	265K	28.0	2.3 years
Bokkos	253K	32.1	2.7 years
Pankshin	239K	29.3	2.4 years
Barkin Ladi	217K	30.3	2.5 years
Langtang North	202K	27.4	2.2 years
Langtang South	188K	31.0	2.5 years
Riyom	188K	31.4	2.6 years
Mikang	107K	28.9	2.3 years
Jos East	104K	27.5	2.2 years

Showing 17 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Plateau is Injurious to Health.