Air pollution threatens the health of 173 thousand people across 6 districts in Vidzeme. The average PM2.5 level is 9 Āµg/mĀ³ā1.8Ć higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Vidzeme faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 173 thousand across 6 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 9Āµg/mĀ³. That's 1.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 149 cigarettes in a year.
If Vidzeme met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 0.41 years longer.
That's 71K years of life stolen from 173 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 6 most polluted districts in Vidzeme. 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 Vidzeme, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valmiera | 45K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Cesis | 43K | 9.6 | 0.5 years |
| Madona | 29K | 8.8 | 0.4 years |
| Valka | 23K | 8.5 | 0.3 years |
| Gulbene | 18K | 9.0 | 0.4 years |
| Aluksne | 16K | 8.9 | 0.4 years |
Showing 6 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.