Breathing in Sơn La is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.4 million people across 12 districts in Sơn La. The average PM2.5 level is 30.1 µg/m³—6.0× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Sơn La

Sơn La faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.4 million across 12 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 30.1µg/m³. That's 6.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 499 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 Sơn La met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.47 years longer.

That's 3.4M years of life stolen from 1.4 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 Sơn La. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Quỳnh Nhai
    2.8 years lost
  • 2.Mường La
    2.6 years lost
  • 3.Sốp Cộp
    2.6 years lost
  • 4.Sông Mã
    2.5 years lost
  • 5.Thuận Châu
    2.5 years lost
  • 6.Phù Yên
    2.5 years lost
  • 7.Bắc Yên
    2.5 years lost
  • 8.Sơn La
    2.5 years lost
  • 9.Yên Châu
    2.4 years lost
  • 10.Mai Sơn
    2.4 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
100%
1.4M
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 12 Districts in Sơn La

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Thuận Châu186K
30.7
2.5 years
Mai Sơn174K
29.1
2.4 years
Sông Mã158K
30.8
2.5 years
Phù Yên135K
30.6
2.5 years
Sơn La116K
30.0
2.5 years
Mường La116K
31.4
2.6 years
Mộc Châu111K
27.5
2.2 years
Yên Châu87K
29.4
2.4 years
Vân Hồ79K
27.5
2.2 years
Quỳnh Nhai74K
33.7
2.8 years
Bắc Yên73K
30.3
2.5 years
Sốp Cộp49K
31.1
2.6 years

Showing 12 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.