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 Zamboanga Sibugay Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Zamboanga Sibugay

Zamboanga Sibugay faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 675 thousand across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15.9µg/m³. That's 3.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 264 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 Zamboanga Sibugay met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.08 years longer.

That's 729K years of life stolen from 675 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 Zamboanga Sibugay. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Kabasalan
1.2 years lost
2.Siay
1.2 years lost
3.Naga
1.2 years lost
4.Diplahan
1.2 years lost
5.Ipil
1.2 years lost
6.Buug
1.2 years lost
7.Titay
1.1 years lost
8.Malangas
1.1 years lost
9.Payao
1.1 years lost
10.Imelda
1.1 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

28.2%

191K

15-25 µg/m³

71.8%

485K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 16 Districts in Zamboanga Sibugay

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Ipil	91K	17.1	1.2 years
Roseller Lim	53K	15.8	1.1 years
Kabasalan	52K	17.5	1.2 years
Tungawan	48K	14.7	1.0 years
Diplahan	44K	17.1	1.2 years
Naga	43K	17.1	1.2 years
Olutanga	40K	12.6	0.7 years
Alicia	37K	14.9	1.0 years
Buug	37K	16.9	1.2 years
Siay	37K	17.4	1.2 years
Titay	36K	16.2	1.1 years
Payao	34K	16.1	1.1 years
Mabuhay	33K	13.3	0.8 years
Malangas	33K	16.1	1.1 years
Talusan	32K	13.1	0.8 years
Imelda	24K	16.0	1.1 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Zamboanga Sibugay is Injurious to Health.