Breathing in Alta Verapaz is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.4 million people across 15 districts in Alta Verapaz. The average PM2.5 level is 23.5 µg/m³—4.7× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Alta Verapaz

Alta Verapaz faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.4 million across 15 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 23.5µg/m³. That's 4.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 390 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 Alta Verapaz met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.8 years longer.

That's 2.6M years of life stolen from 1.4 million 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 Alta Verapaz. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Panzós
    2.3 years lost
  • 2.Tucurú
    2.2 years lost
  • 3.Senahú
    2 years lost
  • 4.Santa María Cahabón
    1.9 years lost
  • 5.San Juan Chamelco
    1.9 years lost
  • 6.Cobán
    1.8 years lost
  • 7.Chahal
    1.7 years lost
  • 8.Tactic
    1.7 years lost
  • 9.Tamahú
    1.7 years lost
  • 10.Lanquín
    1.7 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
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
79.4%
1.1M
25-35 µg/m³
20.6%
297K
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 15 Districts in Alta Verapaz

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
San Pedro Carchá282K
22.6
1.7 years
Cobán221K
23.4
1.8 years
Chisec161K
20.8
1.5 years
Panzós134K
28.7
2.3 years
Senahú114K
25.6
2.0 years
San Cristóbal Verapaz84K
21.9
1.7 years
Fray Bartolomé de las Casas76K
20.9
1.6 years
San Juan Chamelco73K
23.9
1.9 years
Santa María Cahabón70K
24.9
1.9 years
Tucurú49K
27.0
2.2 years
Santa Cruz Verapaz46K
22.0
1.7 years
Tactic45K
22.8
1.7 years
Lanquín38K
22.6
1.7 years
Chahal25K
22.8
1.7 years
Tamahú24K
22.7
1.7 years

Showing 15 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.