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.

Romania's Alba Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Alba

Alba faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 307 thousand across 76 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.8µg/m³. That's 2.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 212 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 Alba met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.76 years longer.

That's 233K years of life stolen from 307 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 Alba. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Sibot
0.9 years lost
2.Blandiana
0.9 years lost
3.Ceru-bacainti
0.8 years lost
4.Vintu De Jos
0.8 years lost
5.Salistea
0.8 years lost
6.Metes
0.8 years lost
7.Sebes
0.8 years lost
8.Ciugud
0.8 years lost
9.Ighiu
0.8 years lost
10.Alba Iulia
0.8 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

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

100%

307K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 76 Districts in Alba

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Cugir	50K	13.2	0.8 years
Alba Iulia	39K	13.3	0.8 years
Sebes	25K	13.3	0.8 years
Aiud	17K	12.8	0.8 years
Blaj	14K	12.4	0.7 years
Ocna Mures	8K	12.4	0.7 years
Zlatna	5K	12.9	0.8 years
Galda De Jos	5K	13.1	0.8 years
Ighiu	5K	13.3	0.8 years
Rosia Montana	5K	11.9	0.7 years
Ciugud	5K	13.3	0.8 years
Almasu Mare	5K	12.8	0.8 years
Unirea	4K	12.4	0.7 years
Sibot	4K	14.0	0.9 years
Lupsa	4K	12.0	0.7 years
Farau	3K	11.9	0.7 years
Vintu De Jos	3K	13.5	0.8 years
Lopadea Noua	3K	12.4	0.7 years
Teius	3K	12.8	0.8 years
Sona	3K	12.0	0.7 years
Jidvei	3K	12.0	0.7 years
Spring	3K	12.9	0.8 years
Santimbru	3K	13.1	0.8 years
Valea Lunga	3K	12.0	0.7 years
Berghin	3K	12.8	0.8 years
Miraslau	3K	12.6	0.7 years
Abrud	3K	12.0	0.7 years
Mihalt	3K	12.9	0.8 years
Hoparta	3K	12.2	0.7 years
Metes	3K	13.3	0.8 years
Sasciori	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Noslac	2K	12.2	0.7 years
Stremt	2K	13.1	0.8 years
Campeni	2K	11.8	0.7 years
Pianu De Sus	2K	13.0	0.8 years
Salistea	2K	13.4	0.8 years
Craciunelu De Jos	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Vidra	2K	11.3	0.6 years
Sancel	2K	12.2	0.7 years
Calnic	2K	12.7	0.8 years
Blandiana	2K	13.8	0.9 years
Lunca Muresului	2K	12.2	0.7 years
Baia De Aries	2K	12.0	0.7 years
Cetatea De Balta	2K	11.9	0.7 years
Rosia De Secas	2K	12.4	0.7 years
Sugag	2K	11.8	0.7 years
Bistra	2K	12.1	0.7 years
Avram Iancu	2K	10.7	0.6 years
Albac	2K	11.4	0.6 years
Salciua De Jos	2K	12.0	0.7 years
Ocolis	2K	11.4	0.6 years
Bucium	2K	12.1	0.7 years
Livezile	2K	12.4	0.7 years
Dostat	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Rametea	2K	11.8	0.7 years
Posaga De Jos	2K	11.7	0.7 years
Garbova	1K	12.3	0.7 years
Ohaba	1K	12.6	0.7 years
Cergau Mare	1K	12.1	0.7 years
Garda De Sus	1K	11.0	0.6 years
Cricau	1K	13.1	0.8 years
Daia Romana	1K	13.0	0.8 years
Ceru-bacainti	1K	13.6	0.8 years
Radesti	1K	12.8	0.8 years
Arieseni	988	11.1	0.6 years
Cenade	900	12.0	0.7 years
Sohodol	853	11.5	0.6 years
Scarisoara	795	11.1	0.6 years
Vadu Motilor	715	11.4	0.6 years
Horea	661	11.8	0.7 years
Ponor	532	12.0	0.7 years
Mogos	508	12.1	0.7 years
Poiana Vadului	438	11.2	0.6 years
Ramet	390	12.2	0.7 years
Ciuruleasa	336	11.9	0.7 years
Intregalde	228	12.3	0.7 years

Showing 76 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Alba is Injurious to Health.