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 Bataan Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Bataan

Bataan faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 884 thousand across 12 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.2µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 202 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 Bataan met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.71 years longer.

That's 628K years of life stolen from 884 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 Bataan. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Orani
0.8 years lost
2.Hermosa
0.8 years lost
3.Limay
0.8 years lost
4.Orion
0.7 years lost
5.Dinalupihan
0.7 years lost
6.Samal
0.7 years lost
7.Pilar
0.7 years lost
8.Abucay
0.7 years lost
9.Balanga City
0.7 years lost
10.Mariveles
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

100%

884K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 12 Districts in Bataan

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Mariveles	151K	11.7	0.7 years
Dinalupihan	127K	12.5	0.7 years
Balanga City	113K	12.1	0.7 years
Hermosa	83K	12.7	0.8 years
Limay	73K	12.7	0.8 years
Orani	65K	13.0	0.8 years
Morong	58K	11.1	0.6 years
Orion	53K	12.6	0.7 years
Pilar	46K	12.3	0.7 years
Abucay	42K	12.2	0.7 years
Samal	39K	12.4	0.7 years
Bagac	34K	11.3	0.6 years

Showing 12 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Bataan is Injurious to Health.