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 Kandy Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Kandy

Kandy faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.5 million across 20 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18.7µg/m³. That's 3.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 310 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 Kandy met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.33 years longer.

That's 2.0M years of life stolen from 1.5 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 Kandy. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Pasbage Korale
1.5 years lost
2.K.F.G. & G. Korale
1.4 years lost
3.Udapalatha
1.4 years lost
4.Kundasale
1.4 years lost
5.Ganga Ihala Korale
1.4 years lost
6.Udunuwara
1.4 years lost
7.Pathadumbara
1.3 years lost
8.Harispattuwa
1.3 years lost
9.Yatinuwara
1.3 years lost
10.Doluwa
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

15-25 µg/m³

100%

1.5M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 20 Districts in Kandy

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
K.F.G. & G. Korale	171K	19.8	1.4 years
Kundasale	135K	19.3	1.4 years
Yatinuwara	120K	18.6	1.3 years
Udunuwara	120K	19.1	1.4 years
Udapalatha	108K	19.3	1.4 years
Harispattuwa	107K	18.6	1.3 years
Pathadumbara	88K	18.7	1.3 years
Akurana	74K	17.9	1.3 years
Medadumbara	68K	17.5	1.2 years
Pasbage Korale	68K	19.9	1.5 years
Pathahewaheta	64K	18.1	1.3 years
Minipe	56K	18.1	1.3 years
Ganga Ihala Korale	52K	19.2	1.4 years
Doluwa	49K	18.4	1.3 years
Poojapitiya	49K	17.1	1.2 years
Thumpane	42K	17.8	1.3 years
Hatharaliyadda	32K	18.1	1.3 years
Delthota	31K	17.8	1.3 years
Panvila	30K	16.1	1.1 years
Udadumbara	24K	16.8	1.2 years

Showing 20 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Kandy is Injurious to Health.