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.

Honduras'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 195 thousand across 19 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 29.5µg/m³. That's 5.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 489 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 2.4 years longer.

That's 469K 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 La Paz. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Aguaqueterique
2.7 years lost
2.San Juan
2.7 years lost
3.San Antonio del Norte
2.7 years lost
4.La Paz
2.6 years lost
5.Cane
2.6 years lost
6.Lauterique
2.5 years lost
7.Mercedes de Oriente
2.3 years lost
8.Marcala
2.3 years lost
9.Santa Elena
2.2 years lost
10.Guajiquiro
2.2 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

25-35 µg/m³

100%

195K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 19 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
La Paz	71K	31.7	2.6 years
Marcala	29K	28.1	2.3 years
Santiago de Puringla	11K	27.7	2.2 years
Yarula	9K	26.5	2.1 years
Cane	9K	31.2	2.6 years
Santa Elena	9K	27.9	2.2 years
Santa María	7K	27.5	2.2 years
Opatoro	7K	27.5	2.2 years
Guajiquiro	6K	27.9	2.2 years
Aguaqueterique	6K	32.6	2.7 years
Santa Ana	6K	26.1	2.1 years
San José	6K	27.6	2.2 years
San Pedro de Tutule	5K	27.5	2.2 years
Chinacla	4K	27.6	2.2 years
San Antonio del Norte	3K	32.1	2.7 years
Cabañas	3K	26.2	2.1 years
Lauterique	2K	30.2	2.5 years
San Juan	2K	32.2	2.7 years
Mercedes de Oriente	807	28.5	2.3 years

Showing 19 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.