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 Nueva Ecija Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.5 million across 32 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 Nueva Ecija met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.17 years longer.

That's 2.9M years of life stolen from 2.5 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 Nueva Ecija. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Guimba
1.4 years lost
2.Nampicuan
1.4 years lost
3.Quezon
1.4 years lost
4.Licab
1.4 years lost
5.Santo Domingo
1.4 years lost
6.Muñoz City
1.4 years lost
7.Llanera
1.3 years lost
8.Cuyapo
1.3 years lost
9.Cabiao
1.3 years lost
10.Talugtug
1.3 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

11.8%

293K

15-25 µg/m³

88.2%

2.2M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 32 Districts in Nueva Ecija

Complete air quality data for every district in Nueva Ecija, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Cabanatuan City	349K	16.3	1.1 years
San Jose City	160K	17.0	1.2 years
Guimba	138K	19.7	1.4 years
Gapan City	129K	16.4	1.1 years
Talavera	110K	18.4	1.3 years
Cabiao	104K	18.5	1.3 years
Muñoz City	100K	19.1	1.4 years
Santa Rosa	93K	15.9	1.1 years
Rizal	84K	16.6	1.1 years
San Antonio	83K	18.2	1.3 years
San Leonardo	83K	16.5	1.1 years
Aliaga	81K	18.0	1.3 years
Cuyapo	76K	18.5	1.3 years
Jaen	75K	17.4	1.2 years
Bongabon	71K	15.4	1.0 years
General Tinio	59K	12.7	0.8 years
Santo Domingo	59K	19.1	1.4 years
Llanera	59K	18.6	1.3 years
Zaragoza	57K	18.1	1.3 years
General Mamerto Natividad	54K	16.8	1.2 years
Lupao	50K	16.1	1.1 years
San Isidro	50K	17.8	1.3 years
Quezon	48K	19.2	1.4 years
Carranglan	47K	13.6	0.8 years
Gabaldon	40K	10.9	0.6 years
Peñaranda	39K	14.5	0.9 years
Laur	38K	13.5	0.8 years
Palayan City	35K	14.3	0.9 years
Pantabangan	34K	13.1	0.8 years
Licab	32K	19.1	1.4 years
Talugtug	27K	18.4	1.3 years
Nampicuan	14K	19.4	1.4 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 Nueva Ecija is Injurious to Health.