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 Oriental Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Negros Oriental

Negros Oriental faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.4 million across 25 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 16.4µg/m³. That's 3.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 272 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 Oriental met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.12 years longer.

That's 1.6M years of life stolen from 1.4 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 Oriental. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Tanjay City
1.3 years lost
2.Amlan
1.3 years lost
3.Pamplona
1.3 years lost
4.San Jose
1.2 years lost
5.Bais City
1.2 years lost
6.Sibulan
1.2 years lost
7.Dumaguete City
1.2 years lost
8.Bacong
1.2 years lost
9.Valencia
1.1 years lost
10.Manjuyod
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

1.7%

25K

15-25 µg/m³

98.3%

1.4M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 25 Districts in Negros Oriental

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Bayawan City	136K	16.0	1.1 years
Dumaguete City	121K	17.1	1.2 years
Guihulngan City	99K	15.4	1.0 years
Mabinay	95K	15.2	1.0 years
Tanjay City	92K	18.3	1.3 years
Bais City	89K	17.3	1.2 years
Santa Catalina	79K	16.6	1.1 years
Sibulan	77K	17.1	1.2 years
Siaton	73K	15.3	1.0 years
Canlaon City	55K	16.2	1.1 years
Valencia	50K	16.7	1.1 years
Ayungon	46K	15.7	1.1 years
Pamplona	45K	17.9	1.3 years
Vallehermoso	45K	15.5	1.0 years
Bindoy	41K	15.7	1.1 years
Manjuyod	38K	16.6	1.1 years
Zamboanguita	37K	15.6	1.0 years
La Libertad	36K	15.5	1.0 years
Bacong	34K	16.9	1.2 years
Jimalalud	31K	15.8	1.1 years
Tayasan	31K	15.8	1.1 years
Dauin	27K	16.2	1.1 years
Basay	25K	14.8	1.0 years
San Jose	22K	17.5	1.2 years
Amlan	22K	18.1	1.3 years

Showing 25 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 Oriental is Injurious to Health.