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 La Union Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in La Union

La Union faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 840 thousand across 20 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 20.4µg/m³. That's 4.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 338 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 La Union met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.51 years longer.

That's 1.3M years of life stolen from 840 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 La Union. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Tubao
1.7 years lost
2.Naguilian
1.7 years lost
3.Santo Tomas
1.6 years lost
4.Sudipen
1.6 years lost
5.Agoo
1.6 years lost
6.Bangar
1.6 years lost
7.Caba
1.6 years lost
8.Aringay
1.6 years lost
9.Rosario
1.6 years lost
10.Bauang
1.5 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

15-25 µg/m³

100%

840K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 20 Districts in La Union

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
San Fernando City	134K	19.4	1.4 years
Bauang	86K	20.6	1.5 years
Agoo	60K	21.1	1.6 years
Rosario	51K	20.9	1.6 years
Aringay	49K	20.9	1.6 years
Santo Tomas	49K	21.3	1.6 years
Naguilian	48K	22.1	1.7 years
Bacnotan	46K	18.5	1.3 years
Luna	45K	19.2	1.4 years
Bangar	42K	21.1	1.6 years
San Juan	41K	20.4	1.5 years
Balaoan	40K	19.5	1.4 years
Caba	32K	21.1	1.6 years
Tubao	30K	22.6	1.7 years
Pugo	20K	20.5	1.5 years
San Gabriel	19K	18.0	1.3 years
Sudipen	13K	21.2	1.6 years
Santol	13K	19.2	1.4 years
Burgos	11K	18.8	1.4 years
Bagulin	10K	17.7	1.2 years

Showing 20 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in La Union is Injurious to Health.