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 Covasna Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Covasna

Covasna faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 191 thousand across 38 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.1µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 201 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 Covasna met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.7 years longer.

That's 134K years of life stolen from 191 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 Covasna. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Sfantu Gheorghe
0.8 years lost
2.Comandau
0.8 years lost
3.Haghig
0.8 years lost
4.Ghidfalau
0.7 years lost
5.Chichis
0.7 years lost
6.Ilieni
0.7 years lost
7.Ozun
0.7 years lost
8.Valea Crisului
0.7 years lost
9.Baraolt
0.7 years lost
10.Bodoc
0.7 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%

191K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 38 Districts in Covasna

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Sfantu Gheorghe	38K	12.8	0.8 years
Targu Secuiesc	19K	12.0	0.7 years
Covasna	8K	11.7	0.7 years
Valea Mare	8K	11.0	0.6 years
Intorsura Buzaului	7K	10.9	0.6 years
Bretcu	7K	11.5	0.6 years
Sita Buzaului	7K	11.0	0.6 years
Zagon	6K	11.7	0.7 years
Baraolt	5K	12.4	0.7 years
Turia	5K	12.1	0.7 years
Ozun	5K	12.5	0.7 years
Zabala	5K	11.8	0.7 years
Cernat	5K	12.1	0.7 years
Lemnia	4K	11.6	0.6 years
Batanii Mari	4K	12.1	0.7 years
Moacsa	4K	12.4	0.7 years
Ghelinta	3K	11.5	0.6 years
Catalina	3K	12.0	0.7 years
Sanzieni	3K	11.9	0.7 years
Micfalau	3K	12.1	0.7 years
Borosneu Mare	3K	12.1	0.7 years
Poian	3K	11.8	0.7 years
Valea Crisului	3K	12.5	0.7 years
Bradut	3K	12.4	0.7 years
Dobarlau	3K	11.9	0.7 years
Bodoc	3K	12.4	0.7 years
Ojdula	3K	11.5	0.6 years
Reci	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Brates	2K	12.0	0.7 years
Aita Mare	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Ghidfalau	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Belin	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Chichis	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Araci	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Ilieni	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Haghig	2K	12.7	0.8 years
Varghis	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Comandau	659	12.7	0.8 years

Showing 38 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Covasna is Injurious to Health.