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.

South Korea's Gyeongsangbuk-do Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongsangbuk-do faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.6 million across 23 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18.2µg/m³. That's 3.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 302 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 Gyeongsangbuk-do met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.29 years longer.

That's 3.4M years of life stolen from 2.6 million 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 Gyeongsangbuk-do. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Gyeongsan
1.4 years lost
2.Yeongju
1.4 years lost
3.Yeongcheon
1.4 years lost
4.Gumi
1.4 years lost
5.Yecheon
1.3 years lost
6.Chilgok
1.3 years lost
7.Goryeong
1.3 years lost
8.Andong
1.3 years lost
9.Seongju
1.3 years lost
10.Uiseong
1.3 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

1.8%

46K

15-25 µg/m³

98.2%

2.6M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 23 Districts in Gyeongsangbuk-do

Complete air quality data for every district in Gyeongsangbuk-do, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Pohang	495K	17.6	1.2 years
Gumi	423K	19.1	1.4 years
Gyeongsan	290K	19.7	1.4 years
Gyeongju	254K	17.8	1.3 years
Andong	162K	18.3	1.3 years
Gimcheon	140K	17.0	1.2 years
Chilgok	114K	18.7	1.3 years
Yeongju	105K	19.6	1.4 years
Yeongcheon	100K	19.1	1.4 years
Sangju	96K	17.4	1.2 years
Mungyeong	69K	17.3	1.2 years
Yecheon	56K	18.8	1.3 years
Uiseong	49K	18.2	1.3 years
Uljin	43K	15.8	1.1 years
Seongju	40K	18.3	1.3 years
Cheongdo	40K	16.8	1.2 years
Yeongdeok	33K	16.0	1.1 years
Bonghwa	30K	16.5	1.1 years
Goryeong	30K	18.6	1.3 years
Cheongsong	24K	14.5	0.9 years
Gunwi	22K	17.4	1.2 years
Yeongyang	16K	14.2	0.9 years
Ulleung	6K	10.4	0.5 years

Showing 23 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Gyeongsangbuk-do is Injurious to Health.