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 Naoasaki Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Naoasaki

Naoasaki faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.2 million across 23 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.3µg/m³. That's 2.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 204 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 Naoasaki met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.7 years longer.

That's 867K years of life stolen from 1.2 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 Naoasaki. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Shimabara
0.9 years lost
2.Unzen
0.9 years lost
3.Minamishimabara
0.9 years lost
4.Isahaya
0.8 years lost
5.Ōmura
0.8 years lost
6.Nagasaki
0.7 years lost
7.Togitsu
0.7 years lost
8.Nagayo
0.7 years lost
9.Kawatana
0.7 years lost
10.Saikai
0.7 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

100%

1.2M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 23 Districts in Naoasaki

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Nagasaki	376K	12.3	0.7 years
Sasebo	225K	11.5	0.6 years
Isahaya	131K	13.4	0.8 years
Ōmura	89K	12.9	0.8 years
Nagayo	43K	12.3	0.7 years
Shimabara	40K	14.4	0.9 years
Minamishimabara	40K	13.7	0.9 years
Unzen	38K	13.9	0.9 years
Togitsu	36K	12.3	0.7 years
Gotō	32K	10.6	0.5 years
Tsushima	26K	11.8	0.7 years
Hirado	26K	10.8	0.6 years
Iki	22K	10.6	0.5 years
Saikai	22K	12.1	0.7 years
Matsuura	19K	10.3	0.5 years
Shinkamigotō	15K	10.2	0.5 years
Hasami	14K	11.4	0.6 years
Saza	14K	10.5	0.5 years
Higashisonogi	10K	12.1	0.7 years
Kawatana	8K	12.3	0.7 years
Emukae	6K	10.3	0.5 years
Shikamachi	4K	11.0	0.6 years
Ojika	2K	10.0	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 Naoasaki is Injurious to Health.