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.

Afghanistan's Khost Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Khost

Khost faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.0 million across 12 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 30.3µg/m³. That's 6.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 503 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 Khost met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.49 years longer.

That's 2.6M years of life stolen from 1.0 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

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

1.Khost (Matun)
2.7 years lost
2.Mando Zayi
2.6 years lost
3.Tere Zayi
2.5 years lost
4.Sabari
2.4 years lost
5.Bak
2.4 years lost
6.Nadir Shah Kot
2.4 years lost
7.Tani
2.3 years lost
8.Gurbuz
2.3 years lost
9.Jaji Maydan
2.1 years lost
10.Musa Khel
2 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%

1.0M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 12 Districts in Khost

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Khost (Matun)	346K	32.5	2.7 years
Mando Zayi	147K	31.4	2.6 years
Sabari	112K	29.4	2.4 years
Tere Zayi	107K	30.2	2.5 years
Tani	81K	28.6	2.3 years
Nadir Shah Kot	74K	29.2	2.4 years
Gurbuz	55K	28.6	2.3 years
Jaji Maydan	37K	25.9	2.1 years
Bak	32K	29.2	2.4 years
Spera	26K	25.2	2.0 years
Musa Khel	19K	25.9	2.0 years
Qalandar	8K	25.2	2.0 years

Showing 12 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Khost is Injurious to Health.