Air pollution threatens the health of 525 thousand people across 11 districts in Matale. The average PM2.5 level is 15.9 Āµg/mĀ³ā3.2Ć higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Matale faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 525 thousand across 11 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15.9Āµg/mĀ³. That's 3.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 264 cigarettes in a year.
If Matale met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 1.07 years longer.
That's 562K years of life stolen from 525 thousand people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 10 most polluted districts in Matale. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 Āµg/mĀ³āonly populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.
Complete air quality data for every district in Matale, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matale | 80K | 16.5 | 1.1 years |
| Dambulla | 79K | 15.3 | 1.0 years |
| Ukuwela | 77K | 17.2 | 1.2 years |
| Galewela | 75K | 15.4 | 1.0 years |
| Rattota | 54K | 16.0 | 1.1 years |
| Naula | 33K | 15.2 | 1.0 years |
| Yatawatta | 32K | 15.3 | 1.0 years |
| Pallepola | 32K | 14.9 | 1.0 years |
| Wilgamuwa | 31K | 17.2 | 1.2 years |
| Ambanganga Korale | 17K | 14.8 | 1.0 years |
| Laggala-Pallegama | 14K | 16.2 | 1.1 years |
Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.