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.

Denmark's Syddanmark Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Syddanmark

Syddanmark faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.2 million across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.8µg/m³. That's 1.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 113 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 Syddanmark met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.18 years longer.

That's 220K years of life stolen from 1.2 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 Syddanmark. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Sønderborg
0.2 years lost
2.Fredericia
0.2 years lost
3.Middelfart
0.2 years lost
4.Fanø
0.2 years lost
5.Kolding
0.2 years lost
6.Ærø
0.2 years lost
7.Vejle
0.2 years lost
8.Haderslev
0.2 years lost
9.Assens
0.2 years lost
10.Langeland
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

5-10 µg/m³

100%

1.2M

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in Syddanmark

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Odense	208K	6.8	0.2 years
Vejle	119K	7.0	0.2 years
Esbjerg	115K	6.5	0.2 years
Kolding	92K	7.0	0.2 years
Sønderborg	71K	7.4	0.2 years
Aabenraa	59K	6.7	0.2 years
Svendborg	57K	6.7	0.2 years
Haderslev	55K	6.9	0.2 years
Fredericia	51K	7.3	0.2 years
Faaborg-Midtfyn	51K	6.7	0.2 years
Varde	50K	6.2	0.1 years
Vejen	43K	6.4	0.1 years
Assens	41K	6.8	0.2 years
Middelfart	38K	7.2	0.2 years
Tønder	37K	6.3	0.1 years
Nyborg	32K	6.5	0.1 years
Nordfyns	28K	6.7	0.2 years
Billund	27K	6.3	0.1 years
Kerteminde	23K	6.7	0.2 years
Langeland	12K	6.8	0.2 years
Ærø	6K	7.0	0.2 years
Fanø	3K	7.1	0.2 years

Showing 22 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Syddanmark is Injurious to Health.