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 Morazán Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Morazán

Morazán faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 195 thousand across 26 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 24.1µg/m³. That's 4.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 400 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 Morazán met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.88 years longer.

That's 367K years of life stolen from 195 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 Morazán. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Perquín
2.4 years lost
2.Torola
2.3 years lost
3.San Fernando
2.2 years lost
4.El Rosario
2.2 years lost
5.San Isidro
2.2 years lost
6.Meanguera
2.2 years lost
7.Jocoaitique
2.2 years lost
8.Arambala
2.2 years lost
9.Osicala
2.1 years lost
10.Gualococti
2 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

58.3%

114K

25-35 µg/m³

41.7%

81K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 26 Districts in Morazán

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
San Francisco Gotera	23K	23.1	1.8 years
Guatajiagua	15K	22.1	1.7 years
Cacaopera	14K	24.2	1.9 years
Corinto	13K	25.1	2.0 years
San Simón	13K	25.5	2.0 years
Sociedad	12K	21.8	1.6 years
Jocoro	10K	21.0	1.6 years
Osicala	9K	26.7	2.1 years
Chilanga	9K	23.0	1.8 years
El Divisadero	8K	20.3	1.5 years
Meanguera	8K	27.4	2.2 years
Perquín	6K	29.6	2.4 years
Delicias de Concepción	6K	25.2	2.0 years
Yamabal	6K	22.2	1.7 years
Gualococti	6K	25.8	2.0 years
Sensembra	5K	22.0	1.7 years
Joateca	5K	25.3	2.0 years
Lolotiquillo	5K	23.0	1.8 years
San Carlos	5K	21.9	1.7 years
San Isidro	4K	27.6	2.2 years
Jocoaitique	4K	27.3	2.2 years
Yoloaiquín	4K	24.8	1.9 years
Arambala	3K	27.3	2.2 years
Torola	2K	28.9	2.3 years
El Rosario	2K	27.6	2.2 years
San Fernando	304	27.9	2.2 years

Showing 26 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Morazán is Injurious to Health.