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.

Thailand's Khon Kaen Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.8 million across 26 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 22.5µg/m³. That's 4.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 373 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 Khon Kaen met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.71 years longer.

That's 3.0M 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 Khon Kaen. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Chum Phae
2 years lost
2.Phupa Man
2 years lost
3.Si Chomphu
1.9 years lost
4.K. Nong Na Kham
1.9 years lost
5.Muang Khon Kaen
1.8 years lost
6.Wiang Kao
1.8 years lost
7.Nong Rua
1.8 years lost
8.K. Khok Pho Cha
1.7 years lost
9.Phu Wiang
1.7 years lost
10.Waeng Noi
1.7 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

91.6%

1.6M

25-35 µg/m³

8.4%

148K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 26 Districts in Khon Kaen

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Muang Khon Kaen	368K	23.6	1.8 years
Chum Phae	125K	25.7	2.0 years
Nam Phong	114K	22.1	1.7 years
Ban Phai	100K	20.6	1.5 years
Nong Rua	93K	23.0	1.8 years
Phon	91K	21.5	1.6 years
Si Chomphu	80K	24.5	1.9 years
Nong Song Hong	78K	20.5	1.5 years
Mancha Khiri	77K	21.6	1.6 years
Kranuan	77K	19.9	1.5 years
Phu Wiang	74K	22.4	1.7 years
Ban Fang	53K	21.8	1.6 years
Chonnabot	50K	21.9	1.7 years
Waeng Noi	43K	22.2	1.7 years
Ubol Ratana	43K	21.4	1.6 years
Khao Suan Kwang	37K	21.1	1.6 years
Phra Yun	37K	21.7	1.6 years
K. Ban Haet	35K	21.1	1.6 years
Waeng Yai	30K	21.9	1.7 years
K. Non Sila	29K	20.9	1.6 years
K. Sam Sung	24K	20.8	1.6 years
K. Khok Pho Cha	24K	22.8	1.7 years
Phupa Man	23K	25.0	2.0 years
Puai Noi	22K	19.2	1.4 years
K. Nong Na Kham	22K	23.9	1.9 years
Wiang Kao	20K	23.3	1.8 years

Showing 26 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Khon Kaen is Injurious to Health.