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 Santa Bárbara Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Santa Bárbara

Santa Bárbara faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 387 thousand across 28 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 30.5µg/m³. That's 6.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 506 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 Santa Bárbara met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.5 years longer.

That's 967K years of life stolen from 387 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 Santa Bárbara. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.San Vicente Centenario
2.7 years lost
2.Santa Bárbara
2.7 years lost
3.Gualala
2.6 years lost
4.Macuelizo
2.6 years lost
5.San Marcos
2.6 years lost
6.San José de Colinas
2.6 years lost
7.Azacualpa
2.6 years lost
8.Nuevo Celilac
2.5 years lost
9.Ceguaca
2.5 years lost
10.Quimistán
2.5 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

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

100%

387K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 28 Districts in Santa Bárbara

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Quimistán	51K	30.7	2.5 years
Santa Bárbara	42K	32.6	2.7 years
Azacualpa	34K	31.1	2.6 years
Macuelizo	31K	31.7	2.6 years
Atima	22K	27.4	2.2 years
San Luis	20K	29.3	2.4 years
Nueva Frontera	18K	29.2	2.4 years
Trinidad de Copán	16K	30.1	2.5 years
Las Vegas	16K	30.5	2.5 years
Nuevo Celilac	16K	30.9	2.5 years
San Marcos	16K	31.4	2.6 years
San José de Colinas	13K	31.2	2.6 years
Protección	11K	30.4	2.5 years
San Pedro Zacapa	9K	29.8	2.4 years
Arada	9K	30.6	2.5 years
Petoa	9K	28.9	2.3 years
Naranjito	8K	29.2	2.4 years
Ilama	7K	30.6	2.5 years
El Nispero	7K	29.0	2.4 years
San Francisco de Ojuera	6K	28.7	2.3 years
San Nicolás	6K	29.2	2.4 years
Concepción del Norte	5K	28.5	2.3 years
Ceguaca	4K	30.7	2.5 years
Santa Rita	3K	30.2	2.5 years
Gualala	3K	31.7	2.6 years
Concepción del Sur	2K	29.8	2.4 years
Chinda	2K	29.7	2.4 years
San Vicente Centenario	2K	32.9	2.7 years

Showing 28 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Santa Bárbara is Injurious to Health.