Breathing in Quezaltenango is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 971 thousand people across 24 districts in Quezaltenango. The average PM2.5 level is 23 µg/m³—4.6× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Quezaltenango

Quezaltenango faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 971 thousand across 24 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 23µg/m³. That's 4.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 382 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 Quezaltenango met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.79 years longer.

That's 1.7M years of life stolen from 971 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 Quezaltenango. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Coatepeque
    2.3 years lost
  • 2.Flores Costa Cuca
    2.2 years lost
  • 3.Génova
    2.1 years lost
  • 4.Zunil
    1.8 years lost
  • 5.El Palmar
    1.8 years lost
  • 6.Quetzaltenango
    1.8 years lost
  • 7.Salcajá
    1.7 years lost
  • 8.San Martín Sacatepéquez
    1.7 years lost
  • 9.La Esperanza
    1.7 years lost
  • 10.Almolonga
    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
78.9%
767K
25-35 µg/m³
21.1%
204K
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 24 Districts in Quezaltenango

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Quetzaltenango207K
23.0
1.8 years
Coatepeque131K
28.1
2.3 years
Ostuncalco62K
21.4
1.6 years
Colomba50K
22.1
1.7 years
Olintepeque49K
22.0
1.7 years
Génova49K
26.0
2.1 years
Cantel48K
22.1
1.7 years
San Martín Sacatepéquez39K
22.6
1.7 years
San Carlos Sija38K
18.4
1.3 years
El Palmar37K
23.0
1.8 years
La Esperanza32K
22.2
1.7 years
Cabricán32K
18.9
1.4 years
Salcajá27K
22.8
1.7 years
Flores Costa Cuca24K
27.0
2.2 years
Palestina de Los Altos21K
19.8
1.5 years
Cajolá20K
20.3
1.5 years
Almolonga20K
22.2
1.7 years
Zunil17K
23.1
1.8 years
Concepción Chiquirichapa17K
21.6
1.6 years
Huitán13K
19.4
1.4 years
Sibilia11K
18.9
1.4 years
San Mateo9K
21.9
1.7 years
San Miguel Sigüilá8K
21.3
1.6 years
San Francisco La Unión8K
18.9
1.4 years

Showing 24 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.