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 Camarines Norte Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Camarines Norte

Camarines Norte faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 641 thousand across 12 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 Camarines Norte met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.7 years longer.

That's 449K years of life stolen from 641 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 Camarines Norte. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Daet
0.8 years lost
2.Talisay
0.7 years lost
3.San Vicente
0.7 years lost
4.Basud
0.7 years lost
5.Labo
0.7 years lost
6.San Lorenzo Ruiz
0.7 years lost
7.Vinzons
0.7 years lost
8.Mercedes
0.7 years lost
9.Santa Elena
0.7 years lost
10.Paracale
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%

641K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 12 Districts in Camarines Norte

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Labo	118K	12.2	0.7 years
Daet	114K	12.7	0.8 years
Jose Panganiban	65K	11.6	0.6 years
Paracale	58K	11.8	0.7 years
Basud	50K	12.3	0.7 years
Mercedes	49K	11.9	0.7 years
Santa Elena	45K	11.8	0.7 years
Vinzons	44K	12.0	0.7 years
Capalonga	33K	11.2	0.6 years
Talisay	32K	12.6	0.7 years
San Lorenzo Ruiz	21K	12.1	0.7 years
San Vicente	13K	12.3	0.7 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 Camarines Norte is Injurious to Health.