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.

Japan's Hiroshima Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Hiroshima

Hiroshima faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.7 million across 23 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 10.6µg/m³. That's 2.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 176 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 Hiroshima met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.52 years longer.

That's 1.4M years of life stolen from 2.7 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 Hiroshima. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Fuchū
0.7 years lost
2.Hiroshima
0.6 years lost
3.Saka
0.6 years lost
4.Kaita
0.5 years lost
5.Fukuyama
0.5 years lost
6.Etajima
0.5 years lost
7.Hatsukaichi
0.5 years lost
8.Kure
0.5 years lost
9.Onomichi
0.5 years lost
10.Ōsakikamijima
0.5 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

20%

532K

10-15 µg/m³

80%

2.1M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 23 Districts in Hiroshima

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Hiroshima	1.2M	11.5	0.6 years
Fukuyama	443K	10.3	0.5 years
Kure	195K	10.1	0.5 years
Higashihiroshima	193K	9.6	0.4 years
Onomichi	125K	10.0	0.5 years
Hatsukaichi	102K	10.1	0.5 years
Mihara	81K	9.5	0.4 years
Miyoshi	49K	8.5	0.3 years
Fuchū City	37K	9.3	0.4 years
Fuchū	36K	11.7	0.7 years
Shōbara	33K	7.7	0.3 years
Akitakata	27K	8.4	0.3 years
Kumano	23K	9.5	0.4 years
Takehara	23K	9.7	0.5 years
Etajima	18K	10.2	0.5 years
Kitahiroshima	18K	8.3	0.3 years
Sera	15K	8.7	0.4 years
Ōtake	14K	9.6	0.5 years
Kaita	12K	10.4	0.5 years
Saka	10K	11.1	0.6 years
Jinsekikōgen	8K	7.8	0.3 years
Akiōta	6K	8.2	0.3 years
Ōsakikamijima	6K	9.8	0.5 years

Showing 23 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Hiroshima is Injurious to Health.