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 Nordland Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Nordland

Nordland faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 149 thousand across 44 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 3.7µg/m³. That's 0.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 61 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 Nordland met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 149 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 Nordland. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Grane
0 years lost
2.Saltdal
0 years lost
3.Fauske
0 years lost
4.Rana
0 years lost
5.Hattfjelldal
0 years lost
6.Sørfold
0 years lost
7.Hemnes
0 years lost
8.Skjerstad
0 years lost
9.Vefsn
0 years lost
10.Beiarn
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%

149K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 44 Districts in Nordland

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Bodø	46K	3.4
Rana	25K	4.2
Vefsn	13K	3.8
Fauske	9K	4.3
Brønnøy	7K	3.5
Alstahaug	7K	3.2
Meløy	5K	3.3
Saltdal	4K	4.3
Skjerstad	4K	3.8
Hemnes	4K	3.9
Steigen	2K	3.1
Leirfjord	2K	3.3
Sømna	2K	3.4
Gildeskål	2K	3.4
Sørfold	2K	4.1
Nesna	2K	3.2
Lurøy	2K	3.0
Herøy	2K	3.0
Grane	1K	4.4
Dønna	1K	3.0
Hattfjelldal	1K	4.1
Bindal	1K	3.7
Vega	1K	3.1
Beiarn	1K	3.8
Rødøy	992	3.1
Moskenes	650	2.6
Værøy	551	2.6
Vevelstad	390	3.4
Røst	377	2.8
Hamarøy	375	3.5
Træna	316	2.8
Tysfjord	89	3.8
Andøy	0	0.0
Ballangen	0	0.0
Evenes	0	0.0
Flakstad	0	0.0
Hadsel	0	0.0
Lødingen	0	0.0
Narvik	0	0.0
Øksnes	0	0.0
Sortland	0	0.0
Tjeldsund	0	0.0
Vågan	0	0.0
Vestvågøy	0	0.0

Showing 44 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Nordland is Injurious to Health.