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 Eastern Samar Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Eastern Samar

Eastern Samar faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 465 thousand across 23 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 8.8µg/m³. That's 1.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 146 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 Eastern Samar met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.38 years longer.

That's 177K years of life stolen from 465 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 Eastern Samar. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Lawaan
0.5 years lost
2.Balangiga
0.5 years lost
3.Giporlos
0.5 years lost
4.General Macarthur
0.5 years lost
5.Quinapondan
0.4 years lost
6.Maydolong
0.4 years lost
7.Balangkayan
0.4 years lost
8.Borongan City
0.4 years lost
9.Llorente
0.4 years lost
10.Hernani
0.4 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

94.7%

440K

10-15 µg/m³

5.3%

25K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 23 Districts in Eastern Samar

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Borongan City	72K	9.1	0.4 years
Guiuan	47K	8.0	0.3 years
Dolores	42K	8.6	0.3 years
Oras	28K	8.3	0.3 years
Can-Avid	25K	8.8	0.4 years
Llorente	23K	9.1	0.4 years
Salcedo	23K	8.6	0.4 years
Arteche	19K	8.3	0.3 years
San Policarpo	16K	7.8	0.3 years
Taft	16K	8.8	0.4 years
Maydolong	16K	9.4	0.4 years
Sulat	16K	8.6	0.4 years
Giporlos	14K	9.8	0.5 years
General Macarthur	14K	9.6	0.5 years
Balangiga	14K	10.1	0.5 years
Quinapondan	13K	9.6	0.4 years
San Julian	13K	8.8	0.4 years
Jipapad	13K	8.9	0.4 years
Balangkayan	11K	9.3	0.4 years
Lawaan	11K	10.4	0.5 years
Hernani	8K	9.0	0.4 years
Mercedes	7K	8.0	0.3 years
Maslog	5K	8.9	0.4 years

Showing 23 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Eastern Samar is Injurious to Health.