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.

Norway's Hedmark Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Hedmark

Hedmark faces significant air pollution challenges. 9% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 200 thousand across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.8µg/m³. That's 1.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 80 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 Hedmark met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 200 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 Hedmark. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Hamar
0 years lost
2.Ringsaker
0 years lost
3.Elverum
0 years lost
4.Åsnes
0 years lost
5.Våler
0 years lost
6.Åmot
0 years lost
7.Løten
0 years lost
8.Stange
0 years lost
9.Rendalen
0 years lost
10.Grue
0 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

66%

132K

5-10 µg/m³

34%

68K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in Hedmark

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Ringsaker	36K	5.0
Hamar	32K	5.3
Elverum	22K	5.0
Stange	21K	4.8
Kongsvinger	18K	4.6
Sør-Odal	8K	4.7
Løten	8K	4.8
Åsnes	7K	4.8
Trysil	7K	4.3
Eidskog	6K	4.7
Tynset	6K	4.2
Nord-Odal	5K	4.5
Grue	5K	4.7
Åmot	4K	4.8
Våler	4K	4.8
Alvdal	3K	4.4
Stor-Elvdal	2K	4.7
Os	2K	4.1
Rendalen	2K	4.7
Folldal	2K	4.3
Tolga	2K	4.1
Engerdal	1K	4.2

Showing 22 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Hedmark is Injurious to Health.