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 Rôtânôkiri Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Rôtânôkiri

Rôtânôkiri faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 225 thousand across 9 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 19µg/m³. That's 3.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 315 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 Rôtânôkiri met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.36 years longer.

That's 307K years of life stolen from 225 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 9 most polluted districts in Rôtânôkiri. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ta Veaeng
1.7 years lost
2.Veun Sai
1.6 years lost
3.Andoung Meas
1.6 years lost
4.Ou Chum
1.4 years lost
5.Ban Lung
1.3 years lost
6.Ou Ya Dav
1.3 years lost
7.Bar Kaev
1.3 years lost
8.Koun Mom
1.2 years lost
9.Lumphat
1.2 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

100%

225K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 9 Districts in Rôtânôkiri

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Ban Lung	44K	18.7	1.3 years
Bar Kaev	30K	18.1	1.3 years
Lumphat	28K	17.5	1.2 years
Ou Chum	27K	19.4	1.4 years
Veun Sai	25K	21.8	1.6 years
Ou Ya Dav	25K	18.2	1.3 years
Koun Mom	23K	17.6	1.2 years
Andoung Meas	16K	21.0	1.6 years
Ta Veaeng	9K	22.1	1.7 years

Showing 9 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Rôtânôkiri is Injurious to Health.