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 Negros Occidental Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Negros Occidental

Negros Occidental faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.4 million across 32 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 16.3µg/m³. That's 3.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 270 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 Negros Occidental met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.1 years longer.

That's 3.7M years of life stolen from 3.4 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 Negros Occidental. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.La Carlota City
1.2 years lost
2.San Enrique
1.2 years lost
3.Bago City
1.2 years lost
4.Valladolid
1.2 years lost
5.Pontevedra
1.2 years lost
6.Hinigaran
1.2 years lost
7.Himamaylan City
1.2 years lost
8.Binalbagan
1.2 years lost
9.Isabela
1.2 years lost
10.La Castellana
1.2 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

8.2%

279K

15-25 µg/m³

91.8%

3.1M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 32 Districts in Negros Occidental

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Bacolod City	618K	16.6	1.1 years
Kabankalan City	220K	16.3	1.1 years
Bago City	211K	17.3	1.2 years
Sagay City	163K	15.8	1.1 years
San Carlos City	150K	15.9	1.1 years
Cadiz City	150K	16.3	1.1 years
Silay City	136K	16.4	1.1 years
Himamaylan City	126K	17.0	1.2 years
Cauayan	111K	13.7	0.9 years
Talisay City	108K	16.4	1.1 years
Murcia	103K	16.5	1.1 years
Escalante City	102K	15.7	1.0 years
Victorias City	95K	16.6	1.1 years
Hinigaran	91K	17.1	1.2 years
Calatrava	88K	15.1	1.0 years
La Castellana	81K	16.8	1.2 years
Binalbagan	77K	16.8	1.2 years
Sipalay City	75K	14.0	0.9 years
La Carlota City	70K	17.7	1.2 years
Isabela	70K	16.8	1.2 years
Enrique B. Magalona	69K	16.4	1.1 years
Hinoba-An	66K	14.7	1.0 years
Pontevedra	60K	17.1	1.2 years
Ilog	59K	16.0	1.1 years
Manapla	54K	16.6	1.1 years
Moises Padilla	48K	16.2	1.1 years
Toboso	44K	15.4	1.0 years
Valladolid	41K	17.2	1.2 years
Candoni	27K	14.1	0.9 years
Salvador Benedicto	27K	16.1	1.1 years
San Enrique	25K	17.5	1.2 years
Pulupandan	20K	16.2	1.1 years

Showing 32 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Negros Occidental is Injurious to Health.