Breathing in Aargau is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 694 thousand people across 11 districts in Aargau. The average PM2.5 level is 6.5 µg/m³—1.3× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Aargau

Aargau faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 694 thousand across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.5µg/m³. That's 1.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 108 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 Aargau met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.14 years longer.

That's 97K years of life stolen from 694 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 Aargau. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Muri
    0.2 years lost
  • 2.Bremgarten
    0.2 years lost
  • 3.Zofingen
    0.2 years lost
  • 4.Lenzburg
    0.2 years lost
  • 5.Rheinfelden
    0.1 years lost
  • 6.Aarau
    0.1 years lost
  • 7.Zurzach
    0.1 years lost
  • 8.Baden
    0.1 years lost
  • 9.Kulm
    0.1 years lost
  • 10.Brugg
    0.1 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
100%
694K
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 11 Districts in Aargau

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Baden114K
6.5
0.1 years
Zofingen76K
6.6
0.2 years
Bremgarten76K
6.7
0.2 years
Aarau74K
6.5
0.1 years
Lenzburg69K
6.6
0.2 years
Brugg64K
6.4
0.1 years
Rheinfelden53K
6.5
0.1 years
Kulm48K
6.4
0.1 years
Muri42K
7.0
0.2 years
Laufenburg41K
6.4
0.1 years
Zurzach38K
6.5
0.1 years

Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.