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 Sakon Nakhon Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Sakon Nakhon

Sakon Nakhon faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 930 thousand across 18 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 21.5µg/m³. That's 4.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 357 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 Sakon Nakhon met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.61 years longer.

That's 1.5M years of life stolen from 930 thousand 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 Sakon Nakhon. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ban Muang
1.9 years lost
2.Kham Ta Kla
1.8 years lost
3.Akat Amnuai
1.7 years lost
4.Chareon Silp
1.7 years lost
5.Phang Khon
1.7 years lost
6.Sawang Daen Din
1.6 years lost
7.Phanna Nikhom
1.6 years lost
8.Muang Sakon Nakhon
1.6 years lost
9.Wanon Niwat
1.6 years lost
10.Song Dao
1.6 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%

930K

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 18 Districts in Sakon Nakhon

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Muang Sakon Nakhon	150K	21.7	1.6 years
Sawang Daen Din	124K	21.7	1.6 years
Wanon Niwat	102K	21.4	1.6 years
Phanna Nikhom	66K	21.7	1.6 years
Ban Muang	57K	24.3	1.9 years
Akat Amnuai	55K	22.3	1.7 years
Phang Khon	46K	21.9	1.7 years
Waritchaphum	43K	21.1	1.6 years
Kusuman	37K	19.9	1.5 years
Chareon Silp	36K	21.9	1.7 years
Kut Bak	32K	19.6	1.4 years
Phon Na Kaeo	30K	20.3	1.5 years
Kham Ta Kla	30K	23.3	1.8 years
Phu Phan	30K	19.2	1.4 years
Khok Sri Supan	29K	20.8	1.5 years
Song Dao	28K	21.1	1.6 years
Tao Ngoi	20K	20.1	1.5 years
Nikhom Nam Un	14K	20.4	1.5 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Sakon Nakhon is Injurious to Health.