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.

El Salvador's La Paz Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in La Paz

La Paz faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 366 thousand across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 26.4µg/m³. That's 5.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 438 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 La Paz met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.11 years longer.

That's 773K years of life stolen from 366 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 La Paz. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.San Luis Talpa
2.3 years lost
2.El Rosario
2.3 years lost
3.San Pedro Masahuat
2.2 years lost
4.San Luis La Herradura
2.2 years lost
5.Santiago Nonualco
2.2 years lost
6.San Miguel Tepezontes
2.1 years lost
7.San Juan Talpa
2.1 years lost
8.Olocuilta
2.1 years lost
9.San Francisco Chinameca
2.1 years lost
10.San Rafael Obrajuelo
2.1 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

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

3.4%

12K

25-35 µg/m³

96.6%

354K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in La Paz

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Zacatecoluca	82K	25.2	2.0 years
Santiago Nonualco	49K	27.0	2.2 years
Olocuilta	34K	26.6	2.1 years
San Luis Talpa	33K	28.5	2.3 years
San Pedro Masahuat	29K	27.5	2.2 years
El Rosario	17K	28.2	2.3 years
San Juan Nonualco	16K	25.4	2.0 years
San Luis La Herradura	16K	27.1	2.2 years
San Juan Talpa	13K	26.6	2.1 years
San Rafael Obrajuelo	13K	26.3	2.1 years
San Pedro Nonualco	12K	25.0	2.0 years
San Miguel Tepezontes	8K	26.8	2.1 years
Cuyultitán	7K	25.2	2.0 years
San Emigdio	6K	25.8	2.0 years
San Francisco Chinameca	6K	26.4	2.1 years
Tapalhuaca	5K	25.9	2.0 years
San Juan Tepezontes	5K	25.3	2.0 years
Santa María Ostuma	5K	24.8	1.9 years
Jerusalén	4K	24.1	1.9 years
San Antonio Masahuat	4K	25.2	2.0 years
Mercedes La Ceiba	3K	24.6	1.9 years
Paraíso de Osorio	372	24.2	1.9 years

Showing 22 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in La Paz is Injurious to Health.