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 Romblon Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Romblon

Romblon faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 288 thousand across 17 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 Romblon met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.69 years longer.

That's 199K years of life stolen from 288 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 Romblon. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Santa Maria
0.8 years lost
2.San Andres
0.7 years lost
3.San Agustin
0.7 years lost
4.Odiongan
0.7 years lost
5.Ferrol
0.7 years lost
6.Alcantara
0.7 years lost
7.Looc
0.7 years lost
8.Romblon
0.7 years lost
9.Calatrava
0.7 years lost
10.Concepcion
0.7 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%

288K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 17 Districts in Romblon

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Odiongan	50K	12.5	0.7 years
Romblon	38K	12.3	0.7 years
Cajidiocan	24K	11.4	0.6 years
San Fernando	23K	11.9	0.7 years
Looc	21K	12.3	0.7 years
San Agustin	21K	12.5	0.7 years
Santa Fe	17K	12.1	0.7 years
San Andres	16K	12.6	0.7 years
Alcantara	16K	12.4	0.7 years
Magdiwang	13K	11.7	0.7 years
Corcuera	10K	11.9	0.7 years
San Jose	9K	11.9	0.7 years
Santa Maria	8K	12.9	0.8 years
Calatrava	8K	12.2	0.7 years
Ferrol	7K	12.4	0.7 years
Banton	5K	11.3	0.6 years
Concepcion	3K	12.2	0.7 years

Showing 17 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Romblon is Injurious to Health.