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.

Portugal's Azores Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Azores

Azores faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 221 thousand across 19 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 3.6µg/m³. That's 0.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 60 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 Azores met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 221 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 Azores. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Madalena
0 years lost
2.São Roque do Pico
0 years lost
3.Horta
0 years lost
4.Lajes do Pico
0 years lost
5.Velas
0 years lost
6.Calheta
0 years lost
7.Angra do Heroísmo
0 years lost
8.Praia da Vitória
0 years lost
9.Ponta Delgada
0 years lost
10.Lagoa
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%

221K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 19 Districts in Azores

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Ponta Delgada	65K	3.6
Angra do Heroísmo	30K	3.7
Ribeira Grande	30K	3.5
Praia da Vitória	19K	3.7
Lagoa	14K	3.6
Horta	13K	4.0
Vila Franca do Campo	9K	3.4
Madalena	6K	4.1
Povoação	6K	3.4
Vila do Porto	5K	3.0
Velas	4K	3.8
Nordeste	4K	3.4
Santa Cruz da Graciosa	4K	3.4
Lajes do Pico	3K	3.9
Calheta	3K	3.7
São Roque do Pico	3K	4.0
Santa Cruz das Flores	2K	3.1
Lajes das Flores	1K	3.2
Corvo	384	3.0

Showing 19 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Azores is Injurious to Health.