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 Ilocos Sur Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Ilocos Sur

Ilocos Sur faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 735 thousand across 34 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 13.5µg/m³. That's 2.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 224 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 Ilocos Sur met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.83 years longer.

That's 610K years of life stolen from 735 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 Ilocos Sur. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Tagudin
1.5 years lost
2.Sugpon
1.4 years lost
3.Alilem
1.4 years lost
4.Santa Cruz
1.3 years lost
5.Santa Lucia
1.2 years lost
6.Salcedo
1.2 years lost
7.Suyo
1.2 years lost
8.Quirino
1.1 years lost
9.Galimuyod
1.1 years lost
10.Candon City
1 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

3.6%

26K

10-15 µg/m³

64%

470K

15-25 µg/m³

32.5%

239K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 34 Districts in Ilocos Sur

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Candon City	64K	15.3	1.0 years
Vigan City	60K	10.9	0.6 years
Narvacan	49K	12.5	0.7 years
Santa Cruz	43K	18.7	1.3 years
Tagudin	42K	20.5	1.5 years
Bantay	39K	11.0	0.6 years
Cabugao	38K	10.0	0.5 years
Santo Domingo	31K	10.5	0.5 years
Magsingal	29K	10.3	0.5 years
Santa Maria	28K	13.8	0.9 years
Santa Lucia	27K	17.5	1.2 years
San Juan	27K	10.3	0.5 years
Sinait	26K	9.3	0.4 years
Cervantes	21K	14.9	1.0 years
Santa Catalina	21K	10.9	0.6 years
Santiago	20K	13.3	0.8 years
Burgos	14K	13.5	0.8 years
San Vicente	14K	10.5	0.5 years
Caoayan	13K	11.4	0.6 years
Santa	13K	11.4	0.6 years
Galimuyod	12K	15.7	1.1 years
Salcedo	11K	17.4	1.2 years
Suyo	11K	17.3	1.2 years
Quirino	10K	15.8	1.1 years
San Ildefonso	10K	10.7	0.6 years
San Esteban	10K	13.5	0.8 years
Sugpon	9K	19.4	1.4 years
Banayoyo	9K	14.3	0.9 years
Alilem	8K	19.1	1.4 years
San Emilio	7K	13.0	0.8 years
Lidlidda	5K	13.6	0.8 years
Gregorio Del Pilar	5K	14.5	0.9 years
Nagbukel	4K	12.3	0.7 years
Sigay	3K	14.8	1.0 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 Ilocos Sur is Injurious to Health.