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 Viroviticko-Podravska Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Viroviticko-Podravska

Viroviticko-Podravska faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 75 thousand across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.9µg/m³. That's 2.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 214 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 Viroviticko-Podravska met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.78 years longer.

That's 59K years of life stolen from 75 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 Viroviticko-Podravska. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Zdenci
0.8 years lost
2.Suhopolje
0.8 years lost
3.Sopje
0.8 years lost
4.Crnac
0.8 years lost
5.Slatina
0.8 years lost
6.Orahovica
0.8 years lost
7.Čađavica
0.8 years lost
8.Virovitica
0.8 years lost
9.Gradina
0.8 years lost
10.Čačinci
0.8 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

100%

75K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 16 Districts in Viroviticko-Podravska

Complete air quality data for every district in Viroviticko-Podravska, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Virovitica	20K	13.0	0.8 years
Slatina	13K	13.1	0.8 years
Pitomača	9K	12.3	0.7 years
Suhopolje	7K	13.2	0.8 years
Orahovica	5K	13.0	0.8 years
Gradina	3K	13.0	0.8 years
Špišić Bukovica	3K	12.6	0.7 years
Lukač	3K	12.7	0.8 years
Čačinci	2K	12.9	0.8 years
Voćin	2K	12.2	0.7 years
Sopje	2K	13.2	0.8 years
Čađavica	2K	13.0	0.8 years
Zdenci	2K	13.5	0.8 years
Nova Bukovica	1K	12.8	0.8 years
Mikleuš	1K	12.6	0.7 years
Crnac	1K	13.1	0.8 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 Viroviticko-Podravska is Injurious to Health.