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 Kurunegala Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Kurunegala

Kurunegala faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.7 million across 30 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15.9µg/m³. That's 3.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 264 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 Kurunegala met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.07 years longer.

That's 1.8M years of life stolen from 1.7 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 Kurunegala. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Mawathagama
1.3 years lost
2.Polgahawela
1.2 years lost
3.Kurunegala
1.2 years lost
4.Mallawapitiya
1.2 years lost
5.Alawwa
1.2 years lost
6.Weerambugedara
1.1 years lost
7.Rideegama
1.1 years lost
8.Narammala
1.1 years lost
9.Maspotha
1.1 years lost
10.Ganewatta
1.1 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

25.5%

440K

15-25 µg/m³

74.5%

1.3M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 30 Districts in Kurunegala

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Pannala	132K	15.7	1.1 years
Kurunegala	100K	17.5	1.2 years
Rideegama	96K	16.5	1.1 years
Ibbagamuwa	90K	16.1	1.1 years
Kuliyapitiya West	83K	14.8	1.0 years
Panduwasnuwara	81K	15.1	1.0 years
Polpithigama	79K	15.5	1.0 years
Wariyapola	71K	16.3	1.1 years
Polgahawela	71K	17.6	1.2 years
Mawathagama	67K	17.9	1.3 years
Alawwa	67K	16.9	1.2 years
Bingiriya	66K	14.2	0.9 years
Narammala	63K	16.4	1.1 years
Galgamuwa	60K	14.9	1.0 years
Mahawa	59K	15.5	1.0 years
Kuliyapitiya East	57K	15.7	1.0 years
Udubaddawa	56K	14.6	0.9 years
Mallawapitiya	54K	17.3	1.2 years
Nikaweratiya	44K	14.9	1.0 years
Ganewatta	43K	16.3	1.1 years
Kobeigane	38K	15.3	1.0 years
Weerambugedara	36K	16.6	1.1 years
Katupotha	34K	15.6	1.0 years
Giribawa	33K	14.8	1.0 years
Maspotha	30K	16.4	1.1 years
Ambanpola	27K	14.8	1.0 years
Ehetuwewa	27K	14.8	1.0 years
Kotavehera	24K	14.2	0.9 years
Rasnayakapura	20K	14.3	0.9 years
Bamunakotuwa	17K	16.2	1.1 years

Showing 30 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Kurunegala is Injurious to Health.