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 Gyeongsangnam-do Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Gyeongsangnam-do

Gyeongsangnam-do faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.3 million across 18 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 Gyeongsangnam-do met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.31 years longer.

That's 4.3M years of life stolen from 3.3 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 Gyeongsangnam-do. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Gimhae
1.5 years lost
2.Changnyeong
1.4 years lost
3.Haman
1.4 years lost
4.Miryang
1.4 years lost
5.Changwon
1.4 years lost
6.Uiryeong
1.3 years lost
7.Jinju
1.3 years lost
8.Goseong
1.2 years lost
9.Sacheon
1.2 years lost
10.Tongyeong
1.2 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

98K

15-25 µg/m³

97%

3.2M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 18 Districts in Gyeongsangnam-do

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Changwon	1.0M	18.8	1.4 years
Gimhae	543K	20.6	1.5 years
Jinju	360K	17.9	1.3 years
Yangsan	358K	16.5	1.1 years
Geoje	226K	16.2	1.1 years
Tongyeong	116K	17.2	1.2 years
Sacheon	107K	17.2	1.2 years
Miryang	102K	18.8	1.4 years
Haman	62K	18.9	1.4 years
Geochang	61K	14.3	0.9 years
Changnyeong	59K	19.7	1.4 years
Goseong	46K	17.4	1.2 years
Hapcheon	42K	17.1	1.2 years
Hadong	40K	16.4	1.1 years
Namhae	39K	16.5	1.1 years
Hamyang	37K	13.9	0.9 years
Sancheong	34K	15.1	1.0 years
Uiryeong	25K	18.1	1.3 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Gyeongsangnam-do is Injurious to Health.