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 Nakhon Si Thammarat Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Nakhon Si Thammarat

Nakhon Si Thammarat faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.6 million across 23 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 19.3µg/m³. That's 3.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 320 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 Nakhon Si Thammarat met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.39 years longer.

That's 2.2M years of life stolen from 1.6 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 Nakhon Si Thammarat. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Hua Sai
1.7 years lost
2.Pak Phanang
1.6 years lost
3.Chian Yai
1.6 years lost
4.Chalermphrakiet
1.6 years lost
5.Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat
1.6 years lost
6.Phra Phrom
1.5 years lost
7.Ron Phi Pun
1.4 years lost
8.Cha-uat
1.4 years lost
9.Chulaphon
1.4 years lost
10.Lan Saka
1.4 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%

1.6M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 23 Districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat

Complete air quality data for every district in Nakhon Si Thammarat, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat	270K	21.3	1.6 years
Thung Song	156K	18.1	1.3 years
Pak Phanang	123K	21.8	1.6 years
Tha Sala	107K	18.3	1.3 years
Ron Phi Pun	104K	19.5	1.4 years
Cha-uat	89K	19.3	1.4 years
Sichon	84K	16.3	1.1 years
Chawang	71K	17.2	1.2 years
Hua Sai	71K	22.7	1.7 years
Thung Yai	68K	17.4	1.2 years
Phra Phrom	50K	20.4	1.5 years
Lan Saka	42K	18.8	1.4 years
Chulaphon	39K	19.1	1.4 years
Bang Khan	38K	17.3	1.2 years
Phrommakhiri	38K	18.4	1.3 years
Chalermphrakiet	35K	21.4	1.6 years
Chian Yai	35K	21.8	1.6 years
Khanom	31K	15.5	1.0 years
K. Chang Klang	30K	17.8	1.3 years
K. Nophi Tam	30K	16.5	1.1 years
Phi Pun	29K	17.0	1.2 years
Na Bon	28K	17.6	1.2 years
Tham Phannara	23K	17.2	1.2 years

Showing 23 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Nakhon Si Thammarat is Injurious to Health.