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.

Vietnam's Lai Châu Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Lai Châu

Lai Châu faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 503 thousand across 8 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 29.2µg/m³. That's 5.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 484 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 Lai Châu met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.37 years longer.

That's 1.2M years of life stolen from 503 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 8 most polluted districts in Lai Châu. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Than Uyên
2.5 years lost
2.Tân Uyên
2.5 years lost
3.Sìn Hồ
2.5 years lost
4.Nậm Nhùn
2.4 years lost
5.Phong Thổ
2.3 years lost
6.Tam Đường
2.2 years lost
7.Mường Tè
2.2 years lost
8.Lai Châu
2.2 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

25-35 µg/m³

100%

503K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 8 Districts in Lai Châu

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Phong Thổ	100K	28.4	2.3 years
Sìn Hồ	93K	30.2	2.5 years
Than Uyên	78K	30.6	2.5 years
Tân Uyên	62K	30.5	2.5 years
Tam Đường	56K	27.9	2.2 years
Mường Tè	44K	27.6	2.2 years
Lai Châu	40K	27.4	2.2 years
Nậm Nhùn	30K	29.6	2.4 years

Showing 8 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Lai Châu is Injurious to Health.