Air pollution threatens the health of 26 thousand people across 13 districts in Valga. The average PM2.5 level is 8.3 ”g/mÂłâ1.7Ă higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Valga faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 26 thousand across 13 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 8.3”g/m³. That's 1.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5”g/m³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 138 cigarettes in a year.
If Valga met the WHO guideline of 5 ”g/m³, the average person would live 0.33 years longer.
That's 9K years of life stolen from 26 thousand people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 10 most polluted districts in Valga. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 ”g/mÂłâonly populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.
Complete air quality data for every district in Valga, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 ”g/m³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valga | 5K | 8.8 | 0.4 years |
| TÔlliste | 3K | 8.5 | 0.3 years |
| Puhajarve | 3K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Karula | 2K | 8.5 | 0.3 years |
| Helme | 2K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Puka | 2K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Taheva | 2K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Palupera | 1K | 7.6 | 0.3 years |
| TÔrva | 1K | 8.1 | 0.3 years |
| Sangaste | 1K | 8.2 | 0.3 years |
| PÔdrala | 988 | 7.9 | 0.3 years |
| Ăru | 826 | 8.3 | 0.3 years |
| Hummuli | 824 | 8.3 | 0.3 years |
Showing 13 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 ”g/m³.