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.

Malaysia's Johor Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Johor

Johor faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 4.2 million across 10 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 14.4µg/m³. That's 2.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 239 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 Johor met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.93 years longer.

That's 3.9M years of life stolen from 4.2 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 Johor. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Johor Baharu
1.1 years lost
2.Kulaijaya
0.9 years lost
3.Pontian
0.9 years lost
4.Kota Tinggi
0.8 years lost
5.Ledang
0.8 years lost
6.Muar
0.8 years lost
7.Segamat
0.8 years lost
8.Keluang
0.8 years lost
9.Batu Pahat
0.8 years lost
10.Mersing
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

57.7%

2.4M

15-25 µg/m³

42.3%

1.8M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 10 Districts in Johor

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Johor Baharu	1.8M	16.1	1.1 years
Batu Pahat	527K	12.7	0.8 years
Segamat	347K	13.4	0.8 years
Keluang	339K	13.1	0.8 years
Mersing	322K	12.3	0.7 years
Kulaijaya	250K	14.4	0.9 years
Pontian	198K	14.0	0.9 years
Muar	189K	13.4	0.8 years
Ledang	163K	13.4	0.8 years
Kota Tinggi	81K	13.5	0.8 years

Showing 10 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Johor is Injurious to Health.