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 Møre og Romsdal Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Møre og Romsdal

Møre og Romsdal faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 235 thousand across 38 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 3.5µg/m³. That's 0.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 58 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 Møre og Romsdal met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 235 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 Møre og Romsdal. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Sunndal
0 years lost
2.Norddal
0 years lost
3.Rauma
0 years lost
4.Nesset
0 years lost
5.Stranda
0 years lost
6.Rindal
0 years lost
7.Surnadal
0 years lost
8.Stordal
0 years lost
9.Tingvoll
0 years lost
10.Volda
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

100%

235K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 38 Districts in Møre og Romsdal

Complete air quality data for every district in Møre og Romsdal, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Ålesund	31K	3.4
Molde	20K	3.6
Kristiansund	14K	3.4
Haram	11K	3.3
Ørsta	10K	3.6
Fræna	9K	3.3
Sula	9K	2.8
Volda	8K	3.7
Ulstein	8K	3.3
Frei	8K	3.5
Giske	7K	3.3
Herøy	7K	3.4
Sykkylven	7K	3.5
Sunndal	7K	4.2
Rauma	7K	4.0
Nesset	7K	4.0
Skodje	6K	3.5
Vestnes	6K	3.6
Surnadal	5K	3.9
Averøy	5K	3.4
Hareid	5K	3.4
Ørskog	4K	3.6
Stranda	4K	3.9
Eide	3K	3.3
Aukra	3K	3.3
Tingvoll	3K	3.7
Gjemnes	2K	3.5
Vanylven	2K	3.5
Sande	2K	3.4
Midsund	2K	3.3
Aure	2K	3.5
Rindal	2K	3.9
Smøla	2K	3.5
Norddal	2K	4.1
Halsa	2K	3.6
Sandøy	2K	3.2
Stordal	817	3.7
Tustna	807	3.6

Showing 38 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Møre og Romsdal is Injurious to Health.