Breathing in Huehuetenango is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.4 million people across 31 districts in Huehuetenango. The average PM2.5 level is 18.9 µg/m³—3.8× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Huehuetenango

Huehuetenango faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.4 million across 31 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18.9µg/m³. That's 3.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 314 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 Huehuetenango met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.36 years longer.

That's 1.9M 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 Huehuetenango. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.La Libertad
    1.7 years lost
  • 2.La Democracia
    1.6 years lost
  • 3.Santiago Chimaltenango
    1.6 years lost
  • 4.Colotenango
    1.6 years lost
  • 5.Santa Ana Huista
    1.6 years lost
  • 6.San Pedro Necta
    1.5 years lost
  • 7.Cuilco
    1.5 years lost
  • 8.San Rafael Petzal
    1.5 years lost
  • 9.Santa Cruz Barillas
    1.5 years lost
  • 10.San Juan Atitán
    1.5 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
100%
1.4M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 31 Districts in Huehuetenango

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Santa Cruz Barillas132K
20.0
1.5 years
Cuilco117K
20.3
1.5 years
Huehuetenango97K
17.1
1.2 years
San Ildefonso Ixtahuacán93K
19.6
1.4 years
Chiantla91K
17.1
1.2 years
Malacatancito80K
18.5
1.3 years
La Democracia62K
21.8
1.6 years
Aguacatán51K
16.3
1.1 years
Santa Bárbara50K
17.6
1.2 years
Nentón50K
16.5
1.1 years
San Pedro Necta42K
20.8
1.5 years
San Miguel Acatán41K
18.2
1.3 years
La Libertad40K
22.7
1.7 years
San Sebastián Coatán39K
17.9
1.3 years
Santa Eulalia36K
18.2
1.3 years
San Juan Ixcoy35K
19.5
1.4 years
Concepción Huista35K
18.7
1.3 years
San Sebastián Huehuetenango35K
18.4
1.3 years
Soloma33K
18.1
1.3 years
San Antonio Huista31K
19.2
1.4 years
Jacaltenango30K
19.2
1.4 years
Todos Santos Cuchumatán30K
17.3
1.2 years
San Mateo Ixtatán29K
17.2
1.2 years
Colotenango25K
21.4
1.6 years
San Rafael La Independencia22K
17.8
1.3 years
Santa Ana Huista21K
20.9
1.6 years
San Gaspar Ixchil19K
17.6
1.2 years
San Juan Atitán17K
19.9
1.5 years
Santiago Chimaltenango17K
21.4
1.6 years
San Rafael Petzal16K
20.2
1.5 years
Tectitán15K
18.3
1.3 years

Showing 31 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.