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 Occidental Mindoro Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Occidental Mindoro

Occidental Mindoro faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 516 thousand across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.2µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 202 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 Occidental Mindoro met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.7 years longer.

That's 361K years of life stolen from 516 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 Occidental Mindoro. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Sablayan
0.8 years lost
2.Rizal
0.8 years lost
3.Santa Cruz
0.8 years lost
4.San Jose
0.7 years lost
5.Calintaan
0.7 years lost
6.Magsaysay
0.6 years lost
7.Lubang
0.6 years lost
8.Mamburao
0.6 years lost
9.Abra de Ilog
0.6 years lost
10.Looc
0.6 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

100%

516K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 11 Districts in Occidental Mindoro

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
San Jose	136K	12.4	0.7 years
Sablayan	102K	13.2	0.8 years
Mamburao	52K	11.2	0.6 years
Magsaysay	49K	11.3	0.6 years
Santa Cruz	44K	12.8	0.8 years
Rizal	41K	13.0	0.8 years
Abra de Ilog	32K	10.9	0.6 years
Calintaan	23K	12.3	0.7 years
Paluan	17K	10.2	0.5 years
Lubang	13K	11.3	0.6 years
Looc	6K	10.7	0.6 years

Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Occidental Mindoro is Injurious to Health.