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.

Philippines's Aklan Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Aklan

Aklan faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 626 thousand across 17 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 13.8µg/m³. That's 2.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 229 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 Aklan met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.85 years longer.

That's 532K years of life stolen from 626 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 10 most polluted districts in Aklan. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Lezo
1 years lost
2.Kalibo
0.9 years lost
3.Numancia
0.9 years lost
4.Makato
0.9 years lost
5.Banga
0.9 years lost
6.New Washington
0.9 years lost
7.Malinao
0.9 years lost
8.Tangalan
0.9 years lost
9.Batan
0.9 years lost
10.Ibajay
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

10-15 µg/m³

100%

626K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 17 Districts in Aklan

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Kalibo	88K	14.7	0.9 years
Malay	59K	12.3	0.7 years
Ibajay	55K	13.6	0.8 years
New Washington	48K	14.4	0.9 years
Banga	45K	14.5	0.9 years
Nabas	35K	13.1	0.8 years
Numancia	33K	14.6	0.9 years
Batan	33K	14.0	0.9 years
Makato	32K	14.5	0.9 years
Libacao	30K	12.8	0.8 years
Balete	30K	13.5	0.8 years
Altavas	29K	13.5	0.8 years
Malinao	27K	14.4	0.9 years
Tangalan	24K	14.0	0.9 years
Madalag	20K	13.2	0.8 years
Buruanga	19K	11.8	0.7 years
Lezo	19K	14.8	1.0 years

Showing 17 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Aklan is Injurious to Health.