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.

Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 942 thousand across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15µg/m³. That's 3.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 249 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 Anuradhapura met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.97 years longer.

That's 914K years of life stolen from 942 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 Anuradhapura. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Palagala
1 years lost
2.Thambuttegama
1 years lost
3.N. Palatha East
1 years lost
4.Nachchadoowa
1 years lost
5.Ipalogama
1 years lost
6.Thalawa
1 years lost
7.Mihinthale
1 years lost
8.Galnewa
1 years lost
9.Kekirawa
1 years lost
10.Rambewa
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

29.9%

282K

15-25 µg/m³

70.1%

660K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in Anuradhapura

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
N. Palatha East	72K	15.5	1.0 years
N. Palatha Central	71K	15.2	1.0 years
Kekirawa	65K	15.3	1.0 years
Thalawa	63K	15.5	1.0 years
Nochchiyagama	63K	15.0	1.0 years
Medawachchiya	55K	14.7	1.0 years
Galenbindunuwewa	52K	14.6	0.9 years
Thambuttegama	44K	15.6	1.0 years
Kahatagasdigiliya	44K	14.6	0.9 years
Ipalogama	43K	15.5	1.0 years
Horowpothana	41K	13.7	0.9 years
Palagala	38K	15.7	1.0 years
Rambewa	37K	15.3	1.0 years
Mihinthale	37K	15.4	1.0 years
Galnewa	37K	15.4	1.0 years
Rajanganaya	31K	15.2	1.0 years
Thirappane	30K	15.2	1.0 years
Nachchadoowa	28K	15.5	1.0 years
Padaviya	27K	12.8	0.8 years
Maha Vilachchiya	25K	14.4	0.9 years
Kebithigollewa	22K	13.6	0.8 years
Palugaswewa	16K	14.5	0.9 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 Anuradhapura is Injurious to Health.