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 Songkhla Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Songkhla

Songkhla faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.6 million across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18.6µg/m³. That's 3.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 309 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 Songkhla met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.32 years longer.

That's 2.1M 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 Songkhla. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ranot
1.6 years lost
2.Singha Nakhon
1.5 years lost
3.Krasae Sinthu
1.5 years lost
4.Muang Songkhla
1.4 years lost
5.Khuan Niang
1.4 years lost
6.Bang Klam
1.4 years lost
7.Hat Yai
1.4 years lost
8.Sathing Phra
1.3 years lost
9.Chana
1.3 years lost
10.Thepha
1.3 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 16 Districts in Songkhla

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Hat Yai	409K	19.2	1.4 years
Muang Songkhla	200K	19.7	1.4 years
Chana	119K	18.5	1.3 years
Sadao	118K	15.2	1.0 years
Singha Nakhon	100K	20.1	1.5 years
Ranot	95K	21.8	1.6 years
Rattaphum	84K	17.7	1.2 years
Thepha	82K	18.0	1.3 years
Na Thawi	70K	16.1	1.1 years
Saba Yoi	69K	15.6	1.0 years
Sathing Phra	61K	18.6	1.3 years
Khuan Niang	45K	19.6	1.4 years
Khlong Hoi Kong	36K	17.4	1.2 years
Bang Klam	29K	19.5	1.4 years
Na Mom	28K	17.4	1.2 years
Krasae Sinthu	23K	19.9	1.5 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Songkhla is Injurious to Health.