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 Sogn og Fjordane Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Sogn og Fjordane

Sogn og Fjordane faces significant air pollution challenges. 8% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 100 thousand across 26 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 Sogn og Fjordane met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 100 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 Sogn og Fjordane. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Aurland
0 years lost
2.Lærdal
0 years lost
3.Sogndal
0 years lost
4.Leikanger
0 years lost
5.Årdal
0 years lost
6.Luster
0 years lost
7.Vik
0 years lost
8.Balestrand
0 years lost
9.Førde
0 years lost
10.Høyanger
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

96.3%

96K

5-10 µg/m³

3.7%

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 26 Districts in Sogn og Fjordane

Complete air quality data for every district in Sogn og Fjordane, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Førde	10K	4.4
Flora	9K	3.8
Sogndal	7K	5.0
Stryn	7K	4.3
Gloppen	6K	4.2
Eid	5K	3.9
Årdal	5K	4.9
Luster	5K	4.8
Vågsøy	5K	3.6
Gaular	4K	4.3
Jølster	4K	4.3
Naustdal	3K	4.2
Høyanger	3K	4.3
Bremanger	3K	3.7
Fjaler	3K	3.9
Selje	3K	3.4
Askvoll	3K	3.7
Vik	2K	4.8
Balestrand	2K	4.7
Lærdal	2K	5.0
Leikanger	2K	5.0
Gulen	2K	3.8
Aurland	2K	5.1
Hornindal	2K	4.0
Hyllestad	1K	3.8
Solund	570	3.5

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 Sogn og Fjordane is Injurious to Health.