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 Hordaland Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Hordaland

Hordaland faces significant air pollution challenges. 18% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 482 thousand across 34 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.3µg/m³. That's 0.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 71 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 Hordaland met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 482 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 Hordaland. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Odda
0 years lost
2.Eidfjord
0 years lost
3.Ullensvang
0 years lost
4.Ulvik
0 years lost
5.Granvin
0 years lost
6.Jondal
0 years lost
7.Voss
0 years lost
8.Kvam
0 years lost
9.Etne
0 years lost
10.Kvinnherad
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

97.3%

470K

5-10 µg/m³

2.7%

13K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 34 Districts in Hordaland

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Bergen	264K	4.2
Askøy	24K	3.9
Fjell	19K	4.0
Stord	18K	4.3
Os	15K	4.3
Voss	15K	4.9
Lindås	13K	4.1
Kvinnherad	11K	4.7
Bømlo	11K	4.1
Kvam	8K	4.8
Osterøy	7K	4.3
Øygarden	7K	3.7
Radøy	7K	3.8
Sund	6K	4.0
Fusa	6K	4.5
Meland	5K	3.9
Odda	5K	5.4
Sveio	5K	4.1
Austevoll	4K	3.9
Etne	4K	4.8
Vaksdal	3K	4.4
Oelen	3K	4.3
Austrheim	3K	3.8
Fitjar	3K	4.1
Ullensvang	3K	5.4
Samnanger	2K	4.5
Tysnes	2K	4.3
Jondal	1K	5.1
Masfjorden	1K	4.0
Granvin	1K	5.3
Ulvik	1K	5.3
Eidfjord	935	5.4
Fedje	443	3.6
Modalen	368	4.4

Showing 34 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Hordaland is Injurious to Health.