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 Ilfov Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Ilfov

Ilfov faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 461 thousand across 39 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.4µg/m³. That's 2.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 206 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 Ilfov met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.73 years longer.

That's 337K years of life stolen from 461 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 Ilfov. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Dobroesti
0.8 years lost
2.Glina
0.8 years lost
3.Pantelimon
0.8 years lost
4.Popesti Leordeni
0.8 years lost
5.Vidra
0.8 years lost
6.Cernica
0.8 years lost
7.Berceni
0.8 years lost
8.1 Decembrie
0.8 years lost
9.Jilava
0.8 years lost
10.Darasti-ilfov
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%

461K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 39 Districts in Ilfov

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Voluntari	38K	12.6	0.7 years
Vidra	28K	12.9	0.8 years
Chiajna	23K	12.4	0.7 years
Pantelimon	19K	13.0	0.8 years
Popesti Leordeni	19K	13.0	0.8 years
1 Decembrie	18K	12.8	0.8 years
Buftea	18K	12.0	0.7 years
Bragadiru	18K	12.4	0.7 years
Nuci	17K	12.3	0.7 years
Otopeni	16K	12.2	0.7 years
Domnesti	16K	12.3	0.7 years
Magurele	16K	12.6	0.7 years
Gruiu	13K	12.3	0.7 years
Ciorogarla	11K	12.2	0.7 years
Jilava	11K	12.7	0.8 years
Clinceni	10K	12.3	0.7 years
Dobroesti	10K	13.0	0.8 years
Chitila	10K	12.1	0.7 years
Berceni	9K	12.8	0.8 years
Cornetu	9K	12.3	0.7 years
Snagov	9K	12.1	0.7 years
Peris	9K	12.1	0.7 years
Branesti	9K	12.0	0.7 years
Dragomiresti-vale	8K	12.3	0.7 years
Moara Vlasiei	8K	11.9	0.7 years
Afumati	8K	12.1	0.7 years
Tunari	7K	12.4	0.7 years
Glina	7K	13.0	0.8 years
Mogosoaia	7K	12.1	0.7 years
Darasti-ilfov	7K	12.6	0.7 years
Cernica	7K	12.8	0.8 years
Balotesti	7K	12.0	0.7 years
Corbeanca	6K	12.0	0.7 years
Ciolpani	6K	12.1	0.7 years
Gradistea	6K	11.7	0.7 years
Dascalu	6K	11.8	0.7 years
Stefanestii De Jos	5K	12.4	0.7 years
Petrachioaia	4K	11.6	0.6 years
Ganeasa	4K	12.0	0.7 years

Showing 39 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Ilfov is Injurious to Health.