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.

Germany's Hessen Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Hessen

Hessen faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 6.4 million across 26 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 Hessen met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.17 years longer.

That's 1.1M years of life stolen from 6.4 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 Hessen. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Frankfurt am Main
0.2 years lost
2.Hochtaunuskreis
0.2 years lost
3.Main-Taunus-Kreis
0.2 years lost
4.Wiesbaden
0.2 years lost
5.Groß-Gerau
0.2 years lost
6.Offenbach am Main
0.2 years lost
7.Bergstraße
0.2 years lost
8.Wetteraukreis
0.2 years lost
9.Offenbach
0.2 years lost
10.Darmstadt
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%

6.4M

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 26 Districts in Hessen

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Frankfurt am Main	768K	7.4	0.2 years
Main-Kinzig-Kreis	425K	6.6	0.2 years
Offenbach	366K	6.7	0.2 years
Wetteraukreis	315K	6.8	0.2 years
Darmstadt-Dieburg	300K	6.7	0.2 years
Wiesbaden	282K	7.2	0.2 years
Groß-Gerau	280K	7.0	0.2 years
Gießen	276K	6.7	0.2 years
Bergstraße	274K	6.9	0.2 years
Lahn-Dill-Kreis	256K	6.2	0.1 years
Marburg-Biedenkopf	249K	6.4	0.1 years
Main-Taunus-Kreis	242K	7.2	0.2 years
Kassel	241K	6.6	0.2 years
Hochtaunuskreis	240K	7.2	0.2 years
Fulda	226K	6.4	0.1 years
Kassel (Kreisfreie Stadt)	201K	6.6	0.2 years
Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis	189K	6.2	0.1 years
Schwalm-Eder-Kreis	182K	6.6	0.2 years
Limburg-Weilburg	174K	6.5	0.1 years
Darmstadt	162K	6.7	0.2 years
Waldeck-Frankenberg	158K	6.5	0.1 years
Offenbach am Main	133K	7.0	0.2 years
Hersfeld-Rotenburg	122K	6.4	0.1 years
Vogelsbergkreis	107K	6.3	0.1 years
Werra-Meißner-Kreis	100K	6.2	0.1 years
Odenwaldkreis	98K	6.5	0.1 years

Showing 26 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Hessen is Injurious to Health.