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 Santarém Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Santarém

Santarém faces significant air pollution challenges. 19% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 421 thousand across 21 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.6µg/m³. That's 0.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 76 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 Santarém met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 421 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 Santarém. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Entroncamento
0 years lost
2.Ferreira do Zêzere
0 years lost
3.Vila Nova da Barquinha
0 years lost
4.Golegã
0 years lost
5.Tomar
0 years lost
6.Ourém
0 years lost
7.Abrantes
0 years lost
8.Constância
0 years lost
9.Sardoal
0 years lost
10.Torres Novas
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

81.9%

345K

5-10 µg/m³

18.1%

76K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 21 Districts in Santarém

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Santarém	58K	4.3
Ourém	44K	5.0
Tomar	36K	5.0
Abrantes	34K	4.9
Torres Novas	34K	4.6
Benavente	30K	4.5
Cartaxo	23K	4.3
Almeirim	22K	4.3
Salvaterra de Magos	21K	4.4
Rio Maior	21K	4.4
Entroncamento	20K	5.3
Coruche	17K	3.8
Alcanena	12K	4.3
Chamusca	8K	4.4
Ferreira do Zêzere	8K	5.2
Vila Nova da Barquinha	7K	5.1
Alpiarça	7K	4.4
Mação	6K	4.5
Golegã	5K	5.1
Constância	4K	4.8
Sardoal	3K	4.7

Showing 21 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Santarém is Injurious to Health.