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 Laguna Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Laguna

Laguna faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.6 million across 31 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 17.5µg/m³. That's 3.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 290 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 Laguna met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.24 years longer.

That's 4.5M years of life stolen from 3.6 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 Laguna. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.San Pedro
1.6 years lost
2.Biñan
1.5 years lost
3.Santa Rosa City
1.5 years lost
4.Cabuyao
1.4 years lost
5.Victoria
1.2 years lost
6.Los Baños
1.2 years lost
7.Calamba City
1.2 years lost
8.Pila
1.2 years lost
9.Bay
1.1 years lost
10.Mabitac
1.1 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

10-15 µg/m³

21.8%

785K

15-25 µg/m³

78.2%

2.8M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 31 Districts in Laguna

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Calamba City	569K	17.1	1.2 years
Biñan	507K	20.1	1.5 years
Santa Rosa City	430K	20.1	1.5 years
Cabuyao	361K	19.1	1.4 years
San Pedro	319K	20.8	1.6 years
San Pablo City	302K	13.3	0.8 years
Santa Cruz	139K	15.8	1.1 years
Los Baños	120K	17.2	1.2 years
Calauan	93K	15.8	1.1 years
Nagcarlan	83K	14.3	0.9 years
Bay	67K	16.7	1.1 years
Pila	61K	16.8	1.2 years
Alaminos	55K	13.6	0.8 years
Victoria	45K	17.4	1.2 years
Pagsanjan	41K	14.7	0.9 years
Santa Maria	40K	16.0	1.1 years
Lumban	38K	13.9	0.9 years
Famy	37K	15.2	1.0 years
Liliw	32K	13.7	0.9 years
Mabitac	30K	16.0	1.1 years
Magdalena	29K	14.7	0.9 years
Majayjay	27K	13.4	0.8 years
Paete	27K	13.4	0.8 years
Kalayaan	25K	13.2	0.8 years
Pangil	24K	14.3	0.9 years
Luisiana	22K	13.3	0.8 years
Cavinti	21K	13.2	0.8 years
Rizal	20K	13.8	0.9 years
Pakil	19K	14.3	0.9 years
Siniloan	19K	14.9	1.0 years
Waterbody	177	14.1	0.9 years

Showing 31 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Laguna is Injurious to Health.