Breathing in Sjælland is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 834 thousand people across 17 districts in Sjælland. The average PM2.5 level is 6.6 µg/m³—1.3× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Sjælland

Sjælland faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 834 thousand across 17 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.6µg/m³. That's 1.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 110 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 Sjælland met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.18 years longer.

That's 150K years of life stolen from 834 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 Sjælland. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Greve
    0.2 years lost
  • 2.Solrød
    0.2 years lost
  • 3.Køge
    0.2 years lost
  • 4.Lolland
    0.2 years lost
  • 5.Roskilde
    0.2 years lost
  • 6.Guldborgsund
    0.2 years lost
  • 7.Stevns
    0.2 years lost
  • 8.Slagelse
    0.2 years lost
  • 9.Faxe
    0.2 years lost
  • 10.Kalundborg
    0.2 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
100%
834K
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 17 Districts in Sjælland

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Roskilde90K
6.7
0.2 years
Næstved83K
6.6
0.2 years
Slagelse79K
6.6
0.2 years
Holbæk71K
6.5
0.1 years
Køge62K
6.9
0.2 years
Guldborgsund59K
6.7
0.2 years
Greve51K
7.1
0.2 years
Kalundborg46K
6.6
0.2 years
Vordingborg44K
6.5
0.1 years
Lolland39K
6.8
0.2 years
Faxe37K
6.6
0.2 years
Ringsted36K
6.6
0.2 years
Odsherred32K
6.2
0.1 years
Sorø30K
6.5
0.1 years
Lejre28K
6.5
0.1 years
Solrød23K
7.0
0.2 years
Stevns23K
6.6
0.2 years

Showing 17 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.