Air pollution threatens the health of 5.0 million people across 3 districts in Mpumalanga. The average PM2.5 level is 22.8 Āµg/mĀ³ā4.6Ć higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Mpumalanga faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 5.0 million across 3 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 22.8Āµg/mĀ³. That's 4.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 378 cigarettes in a year.
If Mpumalanga met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 1.71 years longer.
That's 8.5M years of life stolen from 5.0 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 3 most polluted districts in Mpumalanga. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 Āµg/mĀ³āonly populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.
Complete air quality data for every district in Mpumalanga, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ehlanzeni | 2.2M | 17.7 | 1.2 years |
| Nkangala | 1.5M | 28.7 | 2.3 years |
| Gert Sibande | 1.2M | 24.4 | 1.9 years |
Showing 3 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.