Air pollution threatens the health of 1.9 million people across 11 districts in Northern Ireland. The average PM2.5 level is 5.4 Āµg/mĀ³ā1.1Ć higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Northern Ireland faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.9 million across 11 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 5.4Āµg/mĀ³. That's 1.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 90 cigarettes in a year.
If Northern Ireland met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 0.01 years longer.
That's 19K years of life stolen from 1.9 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 10 most polluted districts in Northern Ireland. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 Āµg/mĀ³āonly populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.
Complete air quality data for every district in Northern Ireland, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 287K | 5.4 | 0.0 years |
| Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon | 217K | 5.4 | 0.0 years |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh | 212K | 5.3 | 0.0 years |
| Newry, Mourne and Down | 174K | 5.4 | 0.0 years |
| North Down and Ards | 163K | 5.4 | 0.0 years |
| Mid Ulster | 152K | 5.6 | 0.1 years |
| Derry and Strabane | 152K | 5.4 | 0.0 years |
| Antrim and Newtownabbey | 145K | 5.3 | 0.0 years |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | 143K | 5.2 | 0.0 years |
| Mid and East Antrim | 141K | 5.3 | 0.0 years |
| Fermanagh and Omagh | 118K | 5.3 | 0.0 years |
Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.