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.

Netherlands's Fryslân Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Fryslân

Fryslân faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 655 thousand across 18 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.3µg/m³. That's 1.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 105 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 Fryslân met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.1 years longer.

That's 66K years of life stolen from 655 thousand 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 Fryslân. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Harlingen
0.2 years lost
2.Vlieland
0.2 years lost
3.De Fryske Marren
0.1 years lost
4.Waadhoeke
0.1 years lost
5.Ooststellingwerf
0.1 years lost
6.Terschelling
0.1 years lost
7.Schiermonnikoog
0.1 years lost
8.Weststellingwerf
0.1 years lost
9.Noardeast-Fryslân
0.1 years lost
10.Ameland
0.1 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%

655K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 18 Districts in Fryslân

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Leeuwarden	125K	6.1	0.1 years
Súdwest-Fryslân	87K	6.2	0.1 years
Smallingerland	56K	6.2	0.1 years
De Fryske Marren	55K	6.5	0.1 years
Heerenveen	49K	6.2	0.1 years
Waadhoeke	47K	6.5	0.1 years
Noardeast-Fryslân	45K	6.3	0.1 years
Tytsjerksteradiel	32K	6.1	0.1 years
Opsterland	31K	6.2	0.1 years
Achtkarspelen	29K	6.3	0.1 years
Weststellingwerf	27K	6.4	0.1 years
Ooststellingwerf	26K	6.5	0.1 years
Dantumadeel	21K	6.1	0.1 years
Harlingen	16K	6.9	0.2 years
Terschelling	4K	6.4	0.1 years
Ameland	4K	6.3	0.1 years
Vlieland	978	6.9	0.2 years
Schiermonnikoog	938	6.4	0.1 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Fryslân is Injurious to Health.