Breathing in Zuid-Holland is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 3.8 million people across 52 districts in Zuid-Holland. The average PM2.5 level is 7.6 µg/m³—1.5× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Zuid-Holland

Zuid-Holland faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.8 million across 52 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 7.6µg/m³. That's 1.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 126 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 Zuid-Holland met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.26 years longer.

That's 980K years of life stolen from 3.8 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 Zuid-Holland. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Barendrecht
    0.3 years lost
  • 2.Hoeksche Waard
    0.3 years lost
  • 3.Zwijndrecht
    0.3 years lost
  • 4.Albrandswaard
    0.3 years lost
  • 5.Goeree-Overflakkee
    0.3 years lost
  • 6.Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
    0.3 years lost
  • 7.Westland
    0.3 years lost
  • 8.Ridderkerk
    0.3 years lost
  • 9.Dordrecht
    0.3 years lost
  • 10.Noordwijk
    0.3 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
100%
3.8M
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 52 Districts in Zuid-Holland

Complete air quality data for every district in Zuid-Holland, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Rotterdam661K
7.9
0.3 years
's-Gravenhage550K
7.5
0.2 years
Zoetermeer126K
7.1
0.2 years
Leiden125K
6.9
0.2 years
Dordrecht119K
8.0
0.3 years
Westland114K
8.0
0.3 years
Alphen aan den Rijn110K
7.0
0.2 years
Delft103K
7.5
0.2 years
Hoeksche Waard90K
8.1
0.3 years
Nissewaard88K
7.7
0.3 years
Schiedam82K
7.6
0.3 years
Gouda76K
6.9
0.2 years
Vlaardingen75K
7.6
0.3 years
Leidschendam-Voorburg74K
7.3
0.2 years
Katwijk68K
7.7
0.3 years
Lansingerland65K
7.8
0.3 years
Rijswijk61K
7.7
0.3 years
Capelle aan den IJssel61K
7.6
0.3 years
Pijnacker-Nootdorp56K
7.8
0.3 years
Krimpenerwaard56K
7.2
0.2 years
Goeree-Overflakkee51K
8.1
0.3 years
Barendrecht49K
8.3
0.3 years
Ridderkerk48K
8.0
0.3 years
Zuidplas46K
7.4
0.2 years
Molenlanden44K
7.5
0.2 years
Noordwijk44K
8.0
0.3 years
Zwijndrecht43K
8.1
0.3 years
Hellevoetsluis39K
7.7
0.3 years
Teylingen38K
7.7
0.3 years
Gorinchem38K
7.8
0.3 years
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk35K
7.0
0.2 years
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht34K
8.1
0.3 years
Maassluis34K
7.6
0.3 years
Waddinxveen34K
7.2
0.2 years
Papendrecht32K
7.8
0.3 years
Wassenaar30K
7.0
0.2 years
Krimpen aan den IJssel30K
7.7
0.3 years
Nieuwkoop30K
7.4
0.2 years
Kaag en Braassem28K
7.9
0.3 years
Leiderdorp28K
6.9
0.2 years
Lisse27K
8.0
0.3 years
Albrandswaard27K
8.1
0.3 years
Sliedrecht26K
7.8
0.3 years
Voorschoten26K
6.9
0.2 years
Oegstgeest26K
7.5
0.2 years
Hillegom25K
7.9
0.3 years
Alblasserdam20K
7.9
0.3 years
Midden-Delfland20K
7.7
0.3 years
Hardinxveld-Giessendam18K
7.8
0.3 years
Brielle18K
7.7
0.3 years
Westvoorne15K
7.5
0.2 years
Zoeterwoude7K
6.9
0.2 years

Showing 52 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.