Air pollution threatens the health of 4.9 million people across 9 districts in Sicily. The average PM2.5 level is 7.4 Āµg/mĀ³ā1.5Ć higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Sicily faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 4.9 million across 9 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 7.4Āµg/mĀ³. That's 1.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 123 cigarettes in a year.
If Sicily met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 0.23 years longer.
That's 1.1M years of life stolen from 4.9 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 9 most polluted districts in Sicily. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 Āµg/mĀ³āonly populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.
Complete air quality data for every district in Sicily, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palermo | 1.2M | 7.8 | 0.3 years |
| Catania | 1.1M | 8.2 | 0.3 years |
| Messina | 587K | 7.3 | 0.2 years |
| Agrigento | 425K | 6.4 | 0.1 years |
| Trapani | 417K | 7.0 | 0.2 years |
| Syracuse | 388K | 6.8 | 0.2 years |
| Ragusa | 313K | 6.7 | 0.2 years |
| Caltanissetta | 261K | 6.4 | 0.1 years |
| Enna | 165K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
Showing 9 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.