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 North Cotabato Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in North Cotabato

North Cotabato faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.6 million across 18 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18.6µg/m³. That's 3.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 309 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 North Cotabato met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.33 years longer.

That's 2.2M years of life stolen from 1.6 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 North Cotabato. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.M'Lang
1.7 years lost
2.Tulunan
1.7 years lost
3.Kabacan
1.6 years lost
4.Matalam
1.5 years lost
5.Pikit
1.4 years lost
6.Kidapawan City
1.4 years lost
7.Makilala
1.4 years lost
8.Magpet
1.3 years lost
9.President Roxas
1.3 years lost
10.Midsayap
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

15-25 µg/m³

100%

1.6M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 18 Districts in North Cotabato

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Pikit	183K	19.5	1.4 years
Midsayap	171K	17.6	1.2 years
Kidapawan City	160K	19.3	1.4 years
Carmen	119K	17.1	1.2 years
M'Lang	103K	22.3	1.7 years
Kabacan	98K	21.1	1.6 years
Makilala	97K	19.2	1.4 years
Tulunan	91K	22.1	1.7 years
Matalam	77K	20.2	1.5 years
Alamada	75K	15.1	1.0 years
Pigkawayan	75K	17.1	1.2 years
Banisilan	70K	15.3	1.0 years
Magpet	63K	18.5	1.3 years
President Roxas	62K	17.9	1.3 years
Libungan	61K	16.3	1.1 years
Arakan	60K	17.4	1.2 years
Aleosan	45K	16.5	1.1 years
Antipas	38K	16.2	1.1 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in North Cotabato is Injurious to Health.