Air pollution threatens the health of 2.2 million people across 14 districts in Sachsen-Anhalt. The average PM2.5 level is 7 ”g/mÂłâ1.4Ă higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Sachsen-Anhalt faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.2 million across 14 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 7”g/m³. That's 1.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5”g/m³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 116 cigarettes in a year.
If Sachsen-Anhalt met the WHO guideline of 5 ”g/m³, the average person would live 0.19 years longer.
That's 417K years of life stolen from 2.2 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 10 most polluted districts in Sachsen-Anhalt. 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 Sachsen-Anhalt, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 ”g/m³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halle (Saale) | 241K | 7.5 | 0.2 years |
| Magdeburg | 239K | 7.4 | 0.2 years |
| Harz | 212K | 6.4 | 0.1 years |
| Salzlandkreis | 188K | 7.0 | 0.2 years |
| Saalekreis | 185K | 7.2 | 0.2 years |
| Burgenlandkreis | 178K | 6.9 | 0.2 years |
| Börde | 172K | 6.9 | 0.2 years |
| Anhalt-Bitterfeld | 158K | 7.3 | 0.2 years |
| Mansfeld-SĂŒdharz | 134K | 6.7 | 0.2 years |
| Wittenberg | 125K | 7.3 | 0.2 years |
| Stendal | 111K | 7.0 | 0.2 years |
| Jerichower Land | 90K | 7.4 | 0.2 years |
| Altmarkkreis Salzwedel | 83K | 6.6 | 0.2 years |
| Dessau-RoĂlau | 80K | 6.8 | 0.2 years |
Showing 14 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 ”g/m³.