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 Vâlcea Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Vâlcea

Vâlcea faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 330 thousand across 85 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.5µg/m³. That's 2.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 207 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 Vâlcea met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.74 years longer.

That's 245K years of life stolen from 330 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 Vâlcea. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Babeni
0.9 years lost
2.Buleta
0.8 years lost
3.Alunu
0.8 years lost
4.Ionesti
0.8 years lost
5.Sirineasa
0.8 years lost
6.Sinesti
0.8 years lost
7.Galicea
0.8 years lost
8.Olanu
0.8 years lost
9.Popesti
0.8 years lost
10.Francesti
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%

330K

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 85 Districts in Vâlcea

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Ramnicu Valcea	60K	13.2	0.8 years
Horezu	15K	11.9	0.7 years
Bodesti	10K	12.0	0.7 years
Dragasani	9K	13.0	0.8 years
Vaideeni	7K	11.5	0.6 years
Balcesti	6K	12.3	0.7 years
Buleta	6K	13.6	0.8 years
Calimanesti	6K	12.7	0.8 years
Babeni	5K	13.8	0.9 years
Ghioroiu	5K	11.9	0.7 years
Budesti	5K	13.0	0.8 years
Lalosu	5K	12.3	0.7 years
Fartatesti	5K	12.4	0.7 years
Dealu Launele	5K	10.9	0.6 years
Brezoi	5K	12.1	0.7 years
Zatreni	5K	12.2	0.7 years
Dragoesti	4K	13.2	0.8 years
Prundeni	4K	13.0	0.8 years
Costesti	4K	11.8	0.7 years
Livadia	4K	11.3	0.6 years
Stoenesti	4K	12.4	0.7 years
Francesti	4K	13.2	0.8 years
Vladesti	4K	12.3	0.7 years
Orlesti	4K	13.0	0.8 years
Maldaresti	4K	12.2	0.7 years
Perisani	4K	11.0	0.6 years
Tomsani	3K	12.5	0.7 years
Milesti	3K	12.2	0.7 years
Galicea	3K	13.3	0.8 years
Ionesti	3K	13.3	0.8 years
Golesti	3K	11.9	0.7 years
Milcoiu	3K	11.6	0.6 years
Olteni	3K	13.0	0.8 years
Gura Suhasului	3K	12.8	0.8 years
Lungesti	3K	12.2	0.7 years
Rotarasti	3K	11.9	0.7 years
Rosiile	3K	12.4	0.7 years
Stoilesti	3K	11.9	0.7 years
Gradistea	3K	12.9	0.8 years
Berislavesti	3K	11.1	0.6 years
Pausesti-maglasi	3K	12.4	0.7 years
Mogesti	3K	12.2	0.7 years
Stefanesti	3K	12.5	0.7 years
Alunu	3K	13.4	0.8 years
Ladesti	3K	12.5	0.7 years
Susani	2K	11.8	0.7 years
Bunesti	2K	12.9	0.8 years
Olanu	2K	13.2	0.8 years
Tetoiu	2K	12.4	0.7 years
Pietrari	2K	12.7	0.8 years
Oveselu	2K	11.9	0.7 years
Sutesti	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Valea Mare	2K	12.1	0.7 years
Ulmetu	2K	12.9	0.8 years
Muereasca	2K	11.8	0.7 years
Stroesti	2K	12.2	0.7 years
Pausesti	2K	12.8	0.8 years
Livezi	2K	12.7	0.8 years
Armasesti	2K	12.3	0.7 years
Malaia	2K	11.8	0.7 years
Prajila	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Cainenii Mici	2K	12.5	0.7 years
Sarulesti	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Berbesti	2K	13.1	0.8 years
Popesti	2K	13.2	0.8 years
Glavile	2K	12.0	0.7 years
Amarasti	2K	12.2	0.7 years
Sinesti	2K	13.3	0.8 years
Creteni	2K	12.4	0.7 years
Boisoara	2K	11.1	0.6 years
Daesti	2K	12.8	0.8 years
Mateesti	2K	12.7	0.8 years
Roesti	2K	12.6	0.7 years
Madulari	2K	11.5	0.6 years
Racovita	2K	12.4	0.7 years
Sirineasa	1K	13.3	0.8 years
Voineasa	1K	11.8	0.7 years
Salatrucel	1K	11.8	0.7 years
Gusoeni	1K	11.9	0.7 years
Runcu	1K	10.9	0.6 years
Voicesti	1K	13.0	0.8 years
Stanesti	1K	12.3	0.7 years
Otesani	1K	12.8	0.8 years
Scundu	1K	12.4	0.7 years
Pesceana	1K	12.1	0.7 years

Showing 85 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Vâlcea is Injurious to Health.