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 Surigao del Sur Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Surigao del Sur

Surigao del Sur faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 611 thousand across 19 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 14.7µg/m³. That's 2.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 244 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 Surigao del Sur met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.96 years longer.

That's 586K years of life stolen from 611 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 Surigao del Sur. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Madrid
1.2 years lost
2.San Miguel
1.2 years lost
3.Carmen
1.1 years lost
4.Cantilan
1.1 years lost
5.Carrascal
1.1 years lost
6.Tago
1 years lost
7.Lanuza
1 years lost
8.Lianga
1 years lost
9.Tandag City
1 years lost
10.Barobo
0.9 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

66.9%

408K

15-25 µg/m³

33.1%

202K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 19 Districts in Surigao del Sur

Complete air quality data for every district in Surigao del Sur, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Bislig City	92K	13.8	0.9 years
Tandag City	62K	14.9	1.0 years
Barobo	49K	14.6	0.9 years
Tago	46K	15.5	1.0 years
Tagbina	38K	13.9	0.9 years
San Miguel	36K	16.9	1.2 years
Hinatuan	34K	13.6	0.8 years
San Agustin	34K	14.3	0.9 years
Cantilan	34K	16.6	1.1 years
Lingig	32K	13.9	0.9 years
Cagwait	25K	13.5	0.8 years
Carrascal	22K	15.8	1.1 years
Lianga	21K	15.0	1.0 years
Marihatag	19K	13.5	0.8 years
Madrid	18K	17.1	1.2 years
Cortes	16K	12.9	0.8 years
Carmen	14K	16.6	1.1 years
Lanuza	10K	15.4	1.0 years
Bayabas	8K	14.3	0.9 years

Showing 19 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Surigao del Sur is Injurious to Health.