Breathing in West Azarbaijan is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 3.4 million people across 14 districts in West Azarbaijan. The average PM2.5 level is 19.7 µg/m³—3.9Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in West Azarbaijan

West Azarbaijan faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.4 million across 14 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 19.7µg/m³. That's 3.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 327 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 West Azarbaijan met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.43 years longer.

That's 4.9M years of life stolen from 3.4 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 West Azarbaijan. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Bukan
    1.6 years lost
  • 2.Shahindezh
    1.5 years lost
  • 3.Naqadeh
    1.5 years lost
  • 4.Miyandoab
    1.5 years lost
  • 5.Mahabad
    1.5 years lost
  • 6.Salmas
    1.5 years lost
  • 7.Piranshahr
    1.4 years lost
  • 8.Khoy
    1.4 years lost
  • 9.Orumiyeh
    1.4 years lost
  • 10.Takab
    1.4 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%
3.4M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0

All 14 Districts in West Azarbaijan

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Orumiyeh1.2M
19.6
1.4 years
Khoy422K
19.6
1.4 years
Mahabad289K
20.0
1.5 years
Bukan259K
20.9
1.6 years
Maku210K
18.7
1.3 years
Salmas207K
19.9
1.5 years
Piranshahr159K
19.7
1.4 years
Miyandoab156K
20.1
1.5 years
Sardasht133K
19.1
1.4 years
Naqadeh127K
20.2
1.5 years
Shahindezh109K
20.4
1.5 years
Oshnaviyeh79K
18.9
1.4 years
Takab79K
19.3
1.4 years
Chaldoran50K
16.2
1.1 years

Showing 14 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.