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.

Estonia's Tartu Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Tartu

Tartu faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 137 thousand across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 7µg/m³. That's 1.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 116 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 Tartu met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.2 years longer.

That's 27K years of life stolen from 137 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 Tartu. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Piirissaare
0.3 years lost
2.Rõngu
0.2 years lost
3.Elva
0.2 years lost
4.Kambja
0.2 years lost
5.Nõo
0.2 years lost
6.Konguta
0.2 years lost
7.Rannu
0.2 years lost
8.Ülenurme
0.2 years lost
9.Haaslava
0.2 years lost
10.Meeksi
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%

137K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in Tartu

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Tartu	89K	7.0	0.2 years
Ülenurme	7K	7.1	0.2 years
Tähtvere	6K	6.9	0.2 years
Luunja	5K	6.9	0.2 years
Kambja	5K	7.3	0.2 years
Nõo	4K	7.2	0.2 years
Elva	3K	7.4	0.2 years
Rõngu	3K	7.5	0.2 years
Haaslava	2K	7.1	0.2 years
Puhja	2K	6.9	0.2 years
Rannu	2K	7.1	0.2 years
Konguta	2K	7.2	0.2 years
Mäksa	2K	6.9	0.2 years
Vara	1K	6.4	0.1 years
Võnnu	1K	7.0	0.2 years
Alatskivi	1K	6.2	0.1 years
Laeva	1K	6.5	0.1 years
Meeksi	867	7.0	0.2 years
Peipsiääre	636	7.0	0.2 years
Kallaste	272	6.4	0.1 years
Võrtsjärve	109	6.2	0.1 years
Piirissaare	23	7.7	0.3 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 Tartu is Injurious to Health.