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 Misamis Oriental Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Misamis Oriental

Misamis Oriental faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.7 million across 26 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 17µg/m³. That's 3.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 282 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 Misamis Oriental met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.16 years longer.

That's 2.0M years of life stolen from 1.7 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 Misamis Oriental. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Gingoog City
1.3 years lost
2.Balingasag
1.2 years lost
3.Jasaan
1.2 years lost
4.Cagayan de Oro City
1.2 years lost
5.Villanueva
1.2 years lost
6.Tagoloan
1.2 years lost
7.Lagonglong
1.2 years lost
8.Medina
1.2 years lost
9.Magsaysay
1.2 years lost
10.Claveria
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

6.9%

119K

15-25 µg/m³

93.1%

1.6M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 26 Districts in Misamis Oriental

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Cagayan de Oro City	771K	17.4	1.2 years
Gingoog City	130K	18.3	1.3 years
Tagoloan	84K	17.2	1.2 years
Balingasag	75K	17.7	1.2 years
El Salvador City	64K	15.5	1.0 years
Claveria	61K	16.7	1.1 years
Opol	54K	16.5	1.1 years
Jasaan	52K	17.4	1.2 years
Villanueva	49K	17.3	1.2 years
Medina	35K	17.2	1.2 years
Magsaysay	35K	16.9	1.2 years
Manticao	32K	15.7	1.1 years
Alubijid	31K	14.7	1.0 years
Initao	29K	14.2	0.9 years
Laguindingan	28K	14.1	0.9 years
Salay	27K	16.2	1.1 years
Lagonglong	24K	17.2	1.2 years
Naawan	23K	15.2	1.0 years
Talisayan	22K	15.5	1.0 years
Lugait	18K	16.4	1.1 years
Gitagum	18K	13.7	0.9 years
Libertad	14K	13.5	0.8 years
Balingoan	13K	15.4	1.0 years
Kinoguitan	12K	15.1	1.0 years
Sugbongcogon	10K	15.5	1.0 years
Binuangan	7K	15.3	1.0 years

Showing 26 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Misamis Oriental is Injurious to Health.