Breathing in Mashonaland East is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.9 million people across 11 districts in Mashonaland East. The average PM2.5 level is 20.1 µg/m³—4.0× higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in Mashonaland East

Mashonaland East faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.9 million across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 20.1µg/m³. That's 4.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 333 cigarettes in a year.

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Life Expectancy Impact

If Mashonaland East met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.48 years longer.

That's 2.9M years of life stolen from 1.9 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Mashonaland East. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Ruwa
    1.7 years lost
  • 2.Goromonzi
    1.6 years lost
  • 3.Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe
    1.6 years lost
  • 4.Seke
    1.5 years lost
  • 5.Mutoko
    1.5 years lost
  • 6.Mudzi
    1.5 years lost
  • 7.Murehwa
    1.4 years lost
  • 8.Marondera Urban
    1.4 years lost
  • 9.Marondera
    1.4 years lost
  • 10.Hwedza
    1.2 years lost

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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
100%
1.9M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0

All 11 Districts in Mashonaland East

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Goromonzi431K
21.1
1.6 years
Murehwa229K
19.8
1.4 years
Seke224K
20.7
1.5 years
Mutoko180K
20.2
1.5 years
Mudzi177K
20.2
1.5 years
Marondera152K
18.8
1.4 years
Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe139K
20.9
1.6 years
Chikomba138K
17.5
1.2 years
Ruwa105K
22.0
1.7 years
Hwedza83K
17.7
1.2 years
Marondera Urban74K
19.4
1.4 years

Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.