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 Sør-Trøndelag Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Sør-Trøndelag

Sør-Trøndelag faces significant air pollution challenges. 8% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 320 thousand across 25 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.7µg/m³. That's 0.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 78 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 Sør-Trøndelag met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 320 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 Sør-Trøndelag. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Malvik
0 years lost
2.Trondheim
0 years lost
3.Klæbu
0 years lost
4.Melhus
0 years lost
5.Selbu
0 years lost
6.Skaun
0 years lost
7.Midtre Gauldal
0 years lost
8.Holtålen
0 years lost
9.Orkdal
0 years lost
10.Tydal
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

35%

112K

5-10 µg/m³

65%

208K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 25 Districts in Sør-Trøndelag

Complete air quality data for every district in Sør-Trøndelag, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Trondheim	197K	5.0
Melhus	17K	4.9
Malvik	11K	5.0
Orkdal	9K	4.3
Klæbu	8K	5.0
Skaun	8K	4.7
Oppdal	7K	4.2
Midtre Gauldal	6K	4.5
Rissa	6K	4.3
Bjugn	6K	3.7
Røros	6K	4.0
Meldal	5K	4.1
Frøya	5K	3.3
Selbu	4K	4.8
Hitra	4K	3.4
Ørland	4K	3.9
Hemne	3K	3.5
Agdenes	3K	4.0
Åfjord	3K	3.7
Rennebu	2K	4.1
Holtålen	2K	4.4
Snillfjord	2K	3.7
Roan	1K	3.5
Osen	791	3.5
Tydal	753	4.3

Showing 25 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Sør-Trøndelag is Injurious to Health.