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.

Russia's Chukot Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Chukot

Chukot faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 32 thousand across 8 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 2.1µg/m³. That's 0.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 35 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 Chukot met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 32 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 8 most polluted districts in Chukot. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Bilibinskiy rayon
0 years lost
2.Chaunskiy rayon
0 years lost
3.Anadyrskiy rayon
0 years lost
4.Beringovskiy rayon
0 years lost
5.Iyul'tinskiy rayon
0 years lost
6.Providenskiy rayon
0 years lost
7.Shmidtovskiy rayon
0 years lost
8.Chukotskiy rayon
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

100%

32K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 8 Districts in Chukot

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Anadyrskiy rayon	20K	2.2
Chukotskiy rayon	3K	1.6
Shmidtovskiy rayon	3K	1.6
Bilibinskiy rayon	2K	2.8
Providenskiy rayon	2K	1.7
Beringovskiy rayon	1K	2.0
Chaunskiy rayon	47	2.5
Iyul'tinskiy rayon	7	1.9

Showing 8 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Chukot is Injurious to Health.