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 Zagrebačka Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Zagrebačka

Zagrebačka faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 235 thousand across 28 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.5µg/m³. That's 2.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 207 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 Zagrebačka met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.72 years longer.

That's 169K years of life stolen from 235 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 Zagrebačka. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ivanić-Grad
0.9 years lost
2.Križ
0.9 years lost
3.Kloštar Ivanić
0.9 years lost
4.Dubrava
0.9 years lost
5.Farkaševac
0.8 years lost
6.Rugvica
0.8 years lost
7.Brckovljani
0.8 years lost
8.Dugo Selo
0.8 years lost
9.Vrbovec
0.8 years lost
10.Gradec
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%

235K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 28 Districts in Zagrebačka

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Samobor	36K	11.6	0.6 years
Zaprešić	21K	12.1	0.7 years
Dugo Selo	20K	13.4	0.8 years
Sveta Nedelja	17K	12.1	0.7 years
Sveti Ivan Zelina	17K	12.1	0.7 years
Jastrebarsko	15K	11.0	0.6 years
Ivanić-Grad	14K	14.3	0.9 years
Vrbovec	14K	13.2	0.8 years
Rugvica	11K	13.5	0.8 years
Brdovec	10K	11.9	0.7 years
Križ	7K	14.3	0.9 years
Brckovljani	7K	13.4	0.8 years
Kloštar Ivanić	6K	14.2	0.9 years
Klinča Sela	5K	11.4	0.6 years
Dubrava	5K	13.7	0.9 years
Jakovlje	4K	11.7	0.7 years
Pisarovina	4K	11.4	0.6 years
Gradec	4K	13.1	0.8 years
Luka	3K	11.6	0.6 years
Krašić	2K	10.7	0.6 years
Pušća	2K	11.6	0.6 years
Farkaševac	2K	13.6	0.8 years
Marija Gorica	2K	11.7	0.7 years
Preseka	1K	12.1	0.7 years
Rakovec	1K	12.4	0.7 years
Dubravica	1K	11.5	0.6 years
Bedenica	1K	11.3	0.6 years
Žumberak	867	10.7	0.6 years

Showing 28 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Zagrebačka is Injurious to Health.