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 Northern Samar Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Northern Samar

Northern Samar faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 605 thousand across 24 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 9.5µg/m³. That's 1.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 158 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 Northern Samar met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.44 years longer.

That's 266K years of life stolen from 605 thousand 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 Northern Samar. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.San Vicente
0.5 years lost
2.San Isidro
0.5 years lost
3.Victoria
0.5 years lost
4.Capul
0.5 years lost
5.Rosario
0.5 years lost
6.Catarman
0.5 years lost
7.San Jose
0.5 years lost
8.Bobon
0.5 years lost
9.Allen
0.5 years lost
10.Lavezares
0.5 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

92.8%

561K

10-15 µg/m³

7.2%

44K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 24 Districts in Northern Samar

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Catarman	97K	9.9	0.5 years
Laoang	57K	8.9	0.4 years
Mondragon	43K	9.6	0.5 years
Las Navas	40K	9.3	0.4 years
Pambujan	34K	9.2	0.4 years
Catubig	33K	9.2	0.4 years
Palapag	32K	8.5	0.3 years
Bobon	28K	9.9	0.5 years
San Isidro	25K	10.1	0.5 years
Gamay	24K	8.7	0.4 years
Allen	24K	9.9	0.5 years
Lavezares	23K	9.8	0.5 years
San Roque	22K	9.4	0.4 years
Silvino Lobos	16K	9.5	0.4 years
San Jose	16K	9.9	0.5 years
Victoria	14K	10.0	0.5 years
Lope de Vega	14K	9.8	0.5 years
Mapanas	14K	8.3	0.3 years
Rosario	12K	9.9	0.5 years
Capul	10K	10.0	0.5 years
Lapinig	9K	8.9	0.4 years
Biri	8K	9.1	0.4 years
San Antonio	7K	9.8	0.5 years
San Vicente	4K	10.1	0.5 years

Showing 24 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Northern Samar is Injurious to Health.