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 Albay Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Albay

Albay faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.4 million across 18 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.1µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 201 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 Albay met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.71 years longer.

That's 1.0M years of life stolen from 1.4 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 Albay. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Polangui
0.8 years lost
2.Libon
0.8 years lost
3.Ligao City
0.8 years lost
4.Oas
0.8 years lost
5.Guinobatan
0.7 years lost
6.Tabaco City
0.7 years lost
7.Legazpi City
0.7 years lost
8.Camalig
0.7 years lost
9.Malilipot
0.7 years lost
10.Malinao
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

2.2%

32K

10-15 µg/m³

97.8%

1.4M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 18 Districts in Albay

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Legazpi City	214K	12.1	0.7 years
Daraga	146K	11.9	0.7 years
Tabaco City	137K	12.1	0.7 years
Ligao City	128K	12.9	0.8 years
Polangui	108K	13.0	0.8 years
Guinobatan	92K	12.5	0.7 years
Camalig	79K	12.1	0.7 years
Libon	79K	12.9	0.8 years
Bacacay	67K	11.0	0.6 years
Oas	65K	12.8	0.8 years
Tiwi	56K	11.4	0.6 years
Malinao	51K	12.0	0.7 years
Malilipot	49K	12.0	0.7 years
Pio Duran	49K	11.7	0.7 years
Santo Domingo	44K	11.9	0.7 years
Rapu-Rapu	32K	9.3	0.4 years
Manito	27K	11.2	0.6 years
Jovellar	21K	11.6	0.6 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Albay is Injurious to Health.