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 Jeollanam-do Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Jeollanam-do

Jeollanam-do faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.8 million across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 17.5µg/m³. That's 3.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 290 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 Jeollanam-do met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.21 years longer.

That's 2.1M years of life stolen from 1.8 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 Jeollanam-do. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Naju
1.4 years lost
2.Yeonggwang
1.3 years lost
3.Muan
1.3 years lost
4.Damyang
1.3 years lost
5.Yeosu
1.3 years lost
6.Jangseong
1.3 years lost
7.Hampyeong
1.3 years lost
8.Mokpo
1.2 years lost
9.Yeongam
1.2 years lost
10.Suncheon
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

35K

15-25 µg/m³

98%

1.7M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in Jeollanam-do

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Suncheon	281K	17.6	1.2 years
Yeosu	256K	18.2	1.3 years
Mokpo	219K	17.7	1.2 years
Gwangyang	144K	17.5	1.2 years
Naju	116K	19.1	1.4 years
Muan	90K	18.5	1.3 years
Haenam	62K	16.6	1.1 years
Hwasun	61K	15.7	1.0 years
Goheung	57K	16.9	1.2 years
Yeongam	51K	17.7	1.2 years
Yeonggwang	49K	18.5	1.3 years
Damyang	44K	18.3	1.3 years
Wando	42K	15.1	1.0 years
Jangseong	41K	17.9	1.3 years
Boseong	37K	15.7	1.0 years
Jangheung	35K	14.9	1.0 years
Gangjin	32K	15.3	1.0 years
Sinan	31K	15.7	1.0 years
Hampyeong	29K	17.8	1.3 years
Gokseong	28K	16.9	1.2 years
Jindo	27K	16.2	1.1 years
Gurye	24K	15.8	1.1 years

Showing 22 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Jeollanam-do is Injurious to Health.