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 Sur Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Camarines Sur

Camarines Sur faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.1 million across 37 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 13.2µg/m³. That's 2.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 219 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 Sur met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.79 years longer.

That's 1.7M years of life stolen from 2.1 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 Camarines Sur. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Camaligan
1.1 years lost
2.Canaman
1.1 years lost
3.Magarao
1.1 years lost
4.Gainza
1.1 years lost
5.Naga City
1 years lost
6.Milaor
1 years lost
7.Bombon
1 years lost
8.San Fernando
0.9 years lost
9.Calabanga
0.9 years lost
10.Pili
0.9 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

3.7%

79K

10-15 µg/m³

78.2%

1.7M

15-25 µg/m³

18.1%

387K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 37 Districts in Camarines Sur

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Naga City	214K	15.7	1.0 years
Iriga City	120K	12.3	0.7 years
Pili	115K	14.3	0.9 years
Libmanan	110K	13.9	0.9 years
Nabua	92K	12.5	0.7 years
Calabanga	84K	14.3	0.9 years
Goa	83K	11.9	0.7 years
Bula	76K	12.8	0.8 years
Buhi	74K	11.6	0.6 years
Sipocot	73K	12.1	0.7 years
Tigaon	67K	12.2	0.7 years
Baao	67K	12.3	0.7 years
Minalabac	60K	14.2	0.9 years
Ragay	60K	12.4	0.7 years
Tinambac	58K	11.4	0.6 years
Ocampo	55K	12.7	0.8 years
Lagonoy	54K	11.6	0.7 years
Pasacao	53K	12.5	0.7 years
Pamplona	49K	14.3	0.9 years
Caramoan	49K	9.3	0.4 years
Bato	48K	12.7	0.8 years
San Jose	46K	12.1	0.7 years
Camaligan	38K	16.2	1.1 years
Lupi	37K	12.0	0.7 years
San Fernando	36K	14.5	0.9 years
Sagnay	36K	11.7	0.7 years
Milaor	35K	15.6	1.0 years
Magarao	32K	16.0	1.1 years
Garchitorena	30K	9.7	0.5 years
Balatan	29K	12.3	0.7 years
Canaman	29K	16.2	1.1 years
Del Gallego	28K	12.5	0.7 years
Bombon	28K	15.3	1.0 years
Presentacion	23K	10.0	0.5 years
Cabusao	19K	14.3	0.9 years
Siruma	19K	10.8	0.6 years
Gainza	12K	15.8	1.1 years

Showing 37 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 Sur is Injurious to Health.