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 Oppland Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Oppland

Oppland faces significant air pollution challenges. 23% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 189 thousand across 26 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.9µg/m³. That's 1.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 81 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 Oppland met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 189 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 Oppland. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Jevnaker
0.1 years lost
2.Gran
0 years lost
3.Lunner
0 years lost
4.Lillehammer
0 years lost
5.Gjøvik
0 years lost
6.Søndre Land
0 years lost
7.Sør-Aurdal
0 years lost
8.Øyer
0 years lost
9.Nordre Land
0 years lost
10.Østre Toten
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

50.3%

95K

5-10 µg/m³

49.7%

94K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 26 Districts in Oppland

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Gjøvik	31K	5.1	0.0 years
Lillehammer	28K	5.2	0.0 years
Østre Toten	15K	4.7	0.0 years
Gran	14K	5.2	0.0 years
Vestre Toten	13K	4.1	0.0 years
Lunner	9K	5.2	0.0 years
Jevnaker	7K	6.0	0.1 years
Nordre Land	6K	4.7	0.0 years
Gausdal	6K	4.6	0.0 years
Nord-Aurdal	6K	4.6	0.0 years
Nord-Fron	6K	4.4	0.0 years
Sel	6K	4.4	0.0 years
Søndre Land	6K	5.0	0.0 years
Øyer	5K	4.8	0.0 years
Ringebu	4K	4.3	0.0 years
Vågå	4K	4.4	0.0 years
Øystre Slidre	3K	4.4	0.0 years
Sør-Fron	3K	4.3	0.0 years
Sør-Aurdal	3K	4.8	0.0 years
Dovre	2K	4.3	0.0 years
Lom	2K	4.5	0.0 years
Vestre Slidre	2K	4.5	0.0 years
Skjåk	2K	4.5	0.0 years
Lesja	2K	4.4	0.0 years
Vang	2K	4.6	0.0 years
Etnedal	1K	4.4	0.0 years

Showing 26 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Oppland is Injurious to Health.