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.

Bhutan's Wangdue Phodrang Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Wangdue Phodrang

Wangdue Phodrang faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 51 thousand across 15 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 26.2µg/m³. That's 5.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 435 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 Wangdue Phodrang met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.09 years longer.

That's 106K years of life stolen from 51 thousand 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 Wangdue Phodrang. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Darkar
2.5 years lost
2.Thedtsho
2.5 years lost
3.Athang
2.4 years lost
4.Gasetsho Gom
2.4 years lost
5.Phangyul
2.4 years lost
6.Gasetsho Wom
2.3 years lost
7.Nyisho
2.2 years lost
8.Ruepisa
2.2 years lost
9.Nahi
2.2 years lost
10.Kazhi
1.9 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

15.7%

15-25 µg/m³

11.9%

25-35 µg/m³

72.4%

37K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 15 Districts in Wangdue Phodrang

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Thedtsho	15K	30.3	2.5 years
Darkar	8K	30.3	2.5 years
Gasetsho Gom	5K	29.6	2.4 years
Gangteng	3K	12.7	0.8 years
Nyisho	3K	27.5	2.2 years
Ruepisa	3K	27.5	2.2 years
Phobji	3K	13.2	0.8 years
Bjenag	2K	22.2	1.7 years
Dangchu	2K	22.0	1.7 years
Sephu	2K	13.4	0.8 years
Kazhi	2K	24.2	1.9 years
Phangyul	1K	29.2	2.4 years
Gasetsho Wom	1K	28.7	2.3 years
Athang	933	29.7	2.4 years
Nahi	719	27.2	2.2 years

Showing 15 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Wangdue Phodrang is Injurious to Health.