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.

Laos's Xiangkhoang Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Xiangkhoang

Xiangkhoang faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 299 thousand across 7 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 30.5µg/m³. That's 6.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 506 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 Xiangkhoang met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.49 years longer.

That's 746K years of life stolen from 299 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 7 most polluted districts in Xiangkhoang. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Phookood
2.6 years lost
2.Kham
2.6 years lost
3.Phaxay
2.5 years lost
4.Pek
2.5 years lost
5.Khoune
2.5 years lost
6.Morkmay
2.4 years lost
7.Nonghed
2.3 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

25-35 µg/m³

100%

299K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 7 Districts in Xiangkhoang

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Pek	94K	30.6	2.5 years
Kham	59K	31.3	2.6 years
Nonghed	44K	28.9	2.3 years
Khoune	38K	30.4	2.5 years
Phookood	32K	31.7	2.6 years
Morkmay	17K	29.3	2.4 years
Phaxay	15K	31.0	2.5 years

Showing 7 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Xiangkhoang is Injurious to Health.