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.

Cambodia's Kândal Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Kândal

Kândal faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.1 million across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 20.5µg/m³. That's 4.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 340 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 Kândal met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.53 years longer.

That's 1.7M years of life stolen from 1.1 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 Kândal. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ta Khmau
1.7 years lost
2.Kandal Stueng
1.7 years lost
3.Mukh Kampul
1.6 years lost
4.Khsach Kandal
1.6 years lost
5.Lvea Aem
1.6 years lost
6.S'ang
1.5 years lost
7.Ponhea Lueu
1.5 years lost
8.Kien Svay
1.5 years lost
9.Angk Snuol
1.4 years lost
10.Kaoh Thum
1.4 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

100%

1.1M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 11 Districts in Kândal

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
S'ang	204K	20.3	1.5 years
Kaoh Thum	148K	19.2	1.4 years
Khsach Kandal	123K	21.4	1.6 years
Kien Svay	119K	19.8	1.5 years
Ponhea Lueu	94K	19.9	1.5 years
Ta Khmau	84K	22.9	1.7 years
Kandal Stueng	82K	22.4	1.7 years
Angk Snuol	77K	19.6	1.4 years
Mukh Kampul	73K	21.4	1.6 years
Lvea Aem	70K	21.1	1.6 years
Leuk Daek	56K	18.9	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.

Breathing in Kândal is Injurious to Health.