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.

Croatia's Karlovacka Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Karlovacka

Karlovacka faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 121 thousand across 21 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 10µg/m³. That's 2.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 166 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 Karlovacka met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.48 years longer.

That's 58K years of life stolen from 121 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 Karlovacka. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Lasinja
0.6 years lost
2.Žakanje
0.5 years lost
3.Draganić
0.5 years lost
4.Ozalj
0.5 years lost
5.Cetingrad
0.5 years lost
6.Karlovac
0.5 years lost
7.Ribnik
0.5 years lost
8.Vojnić
0.5 years lost
9.Duga Resa
0.5 years lost
10.Rakovica
0.5 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

39.9%

48K

10-15 µg/m³

60.1%

73K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 21 Districts in Karlovacka

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Karlovac	52K	10.2	0.5 years
Ogulin	13K	9.4	0.4 years
Duga Resa	11K	9.9	0.5 years
Ozalj	6K	10.4	0.5 years
Slunj	5K	9.6	0.5 years
Vojnić	4K	10.0	0.5 years
Josipdol	4K	9.3	0.4 years
Žakanje	3K	10.6	0.5 years
Draganić	3K	10.5	0.5 years
Netretić	3K	9.8	0.5 years
Barilović	3K	9.7	0.5 years
Generalski Stol	2K	9.6	0.5 years
Rakovica	2K	9.8	0.5 years
Plaški	2K	9.2	0.4 years
Lasinja	2K	11.0	0.6 years
Cetingrad	1K	10.3	0.5 years
Krnjak	1K	9.6	0.5 years
Bosiljevo	1K	9.7	0.5 years
Tounj	1K	9.5	0.4 years
Saborsko	539	9.2	0.4 years
Ribnik	399	10.1	0.5 years

Showing 21 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Karlovacka is Injurious to Health.