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 Batangas Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Batangas

Batangas faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.0 million across 34 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 199 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 Batangas met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.68 years longer.

That's 2.1M years of life stolen from 3.0 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 Batangas. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Santo Tomas
0.9 years lost
2.Tanauan City
0.9 years lost
3.Malvar
0.8 years lost
4.Talisay
0.8 years lost
5.Balete
0.7 years lost
6.Lipa City
0.7 years lost
7.Mataas Na Kahoy
0.7 years lost
8.Balayan
0.7 years lost
9.Agoncillo
0.7 years lost
10.Calaca
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%

3.0M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 34 Districts in Batangas

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Lipa City	402K	12.4	0.7 years
Batangas City	361K	11.1	0.6 years
Santo Tomas	245K	14.5	0.9 years
Tanauan City	196K	14.1	0.9 years
Rosario	137K	10.7	0.6 years
Nasugbu	124K	11.6	0.6 years
San Juan	119K	10.6	0.5 years
Balayan	103K	12.0	0.7 years
Lemery	99K	11.9	0.7 years
Calaca	87K	11.9	0.7 years
San Jose	87K	11.7	0.7 years
Bauan	84K	11.5	0.6 years
San Pascual	81K	11.5	0.6 years
Lian	70K	11.8	0.7 years
Malvar	68K	13.6	0.8 years
Taal	67K	11.8	0.7 years
Ibaan	63K	10.9	0.6 years
Padre Garcia	61K	11.1	0.6 years
Calatagan	58K	11.5	0.6 years
Tuy	51K	11.8	0.7 years
Mabini	50K	11.3	0.6 years
Taysan	43K	10.3	0.5 years
Lobo	43K	10.3	0.5 years
Laurel	42K	11.9	0.7 years
San Luis	38K	11.6	0.7 years
Cuenca	35K	11.7	0.7 years
Agoncillo	34K	11.9	0.7 years
Alitagtag	33K	11.7	0.7 years
Talisay	32K	13.2	0.8 years
Mataas Na Kahoy	26K	12.2	0.7 years
Balete	25K	12.6	0.7 years
San Nicolas	21K	11.8	0.7 years
Santa Teresita	20K	11.7	0.7 years
Tingloy	16K	11.1	0.6 years

Showing 34 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Batangas is Injurious to Health.