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 Osaka Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Osaka

Osaka faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 8.6 million across 43 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.4µg/m³. That's 2.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 206 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 Osaka met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.72 years longer.

That's 6.2M years of life stolen from 8.6 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 Osaka. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Moriguchi
0.9 years lost
2.Kadoma
0.8 years lost
3.Settsu
0.8 years lost
4.Osaka
0.8 years lost
5.Higashiōsaka
0.8 years lost
6.Daitō
0.8 years lost
7.Neyagawa
0.8 years lost
8.Suita
0.8 years lost
9.Yao
0.8 years lost
10.Shijōnawate
0.8 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

4.4%

383K

10-15 µg/m³

95.6%

8.2M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 43 Districts in Osaka

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Osaka	2.7M	13.3	0.8 years
Sakai	825K	11.5	0.6 years
Higashiōsaka	463K	13.2	0.8 years
Toyonaka	412K	12.7	0.8 years
Suita	381K	13.1	0.8 years
Hirakata	375K	12.2	0.7 years
Takatsuki	335K	12.1	0.7 years
Ibaraki	268K	12.7	0.8 years
Neyagawa	220K	13.2	0.8 years
Yao	209K	12.8	0.8 years
Kishiwada	192K	10.4	0.5 years
Minoo	175K	12.2	0.7 years
Moriguchi	166K	13.7	0.9 years
Izumi	145K	10.6	0.5 years
Matsubara	134K	12.0	0.7 years
Ikeda	109K	12.2	0.7 years
Izumisano	100K	9.3	0.4 years
Kawachinagano	100K	10.2	0.5 years
Habikino	94K	12.0	0.7 years
Kadoma	92K	13.6	0.8 years
Daitō	89K	13.2	0.8 years
Tondabayashi	87K	11.2	0.6 years
Settsu	83K	13.5	0.8 years
Izumiōtsu	79K	11.1	0.6 years
Kaizuka	78K	9.8	0.5 years
Kashiwara	72K	12.4	0.7 years
Takaishi	71K	11.3	0.6 years
Katano	68K	12.2	0.7 years
Fujiidera	63K	12.4	0.7 years
Sennan	54K	8.4	0.3 years
Hannan	53K	8.1	0.3 years
Shijōnawate	53K	12.7	0.8 years
Ōsakasayama	47K	11.2	0.6 years
Shimamoto	38K	11.2	0.6 years
Kumatori	37K	9.2	0.4 years
Tadaoka	34K	10.9	0.6 years
Toyono	18K	9.8	0.5 years
Kanan	15K	10.9	0.6 years
Tajiri	15K	9.2	0.4 years
Misaki	14K	7.7	0.3 years
Taishi	14K	11.3	0.6 years
Nose	9K	7.9	0.3 years
Chihayaakasaka	4K	9.4	0.4 years

Showing 43 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Osaka is Injurious to Health.