Breathing in Zambales is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 905 thousand people across 14 districts in Zambales. The average PM2.5 level is 12.8 µg/m³—2.6Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in Zambales

Zambales faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 905 thousand across 14 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.8µg/m³. That's 2.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 212 cigarettes in a year.

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Life Expectancy Impact

If Zambales met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.75 years longer.

That's 679K years of life stolen from 905 thousand people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Zambales. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Masinloc
    0.9 years lost
  • 2.Candelaria
    0.9 years lost
  • 3.Iba
    0.9 years lost
  • 4.Palauig
    0.9 years lost
  • 5.Botolan
    0.9 years lost
  • 6.San Narciso
    0.8 years lost
  • 7.San Marcelino
    0.8 years lost
  • 8.Santa Cruz
    0.8 years lost
  • 9.San Felipe
    0.8 years lost
  • 10.Cabangan
    0.8 years lost

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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
100%
905K
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0

All 14 Districts in Zambales

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Olongapo City279K
11.6
0.6 years
Subic103K
12.1
0.7 years
Botolan68K
14.1
0.9 years
Castillejos63K
12.7
0.8 years
Iba60K
14.3
0.9 years
Santa Cruz53K
13.2
0.8 years
Masinloc47K
14.6
0.9 years
Palauig41K
14.1
0.9 years
San Marcelino38K
13.3
0.8 years
San Antonio38K
12.8
0.8 years
Candelaria34K
14.4
0.9 years
San Narciso32K
13.6
0.8 years
Cabangan28K
13.0
0.8 years
San Felipe23K
13.1
0.8 years

Showing 14 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.