Breathing in Sonora is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 3.0 million people across 72 districts in Sonora. The average PM2.5 level is 5.4 µg/m³—1.1× higher than the WHO guideline.

AboutMake Air Quality Great AgainAQLI Data

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Sonora

Sonora faces significant air pollution challenges. 24% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.0 million across 72 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 5.4µg/m³. That's 1.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 90 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 Sonora met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.07 years longer.

That's 212K years of life stolen from 3.0 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 Sonora. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Puerto Peñasco
    0.2 years lost
  • 2.Pitiquito
    0.1 years lost
  • 3.San Luis Río Colorado
    0.1 years lost
  • 4.Benito Juárez
    0.1 years lost
  • 5.Cajeme
    0.1 years lost
  • 6.Etchojoa
    0.1 years lost
  • 7.Navojoa
    0.1 years lost
  • 8.General Plutarco Elías Calles
    0.1 years lost
  • 9.Hermosillo
    0.1 years lost
  • 10.Guaymas
    0.1 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
21.3%
644K
5-10 µg/m³
78.7%
2.4M
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 72 Districts in Sonora

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Hermosillo963K
5.7
0.1 years
Cajeme450K
5.9
0.1 years
Nogales273K
3.8
0.0 years
San Luis Río Colorado205K
6.3
0.1 years
Navojoa169K
5.8
0.1 years
Guaymas159K
5.7
0.1 years
Agua Prieta95K
4.2
0.0 years
Caborca92K
5.1
0.0 years
Huatabampo79K
5.7
0.1 years
Etchojoa63K
5.9
0.1 years
Puerto Peñasco60K
7.4
0.2 years
Empalme53K
5.5
0.0 years
Cananea41K
3.6
0.0 years
Magdalena34K
4.3
0.0 years
Alamos26K
4.2
0.0 years
Bácum24K
5.3
0.0 years
Benito Juárez22K
6.2
0.1 years
Santa Ana17K
3.5
0.0 years
Nacozari de García15K
4.9
0.0 years
San Ignacio Río Muerto15K
5.4
0.0 years
General Plutarco Elías Calles14K
5.8
0.1 years
Imuris13K
3.3
0.0 years
San Miguel de Horcasitas11K
3.1
0.0 years
Altar10K
4.6
0.0 years
Pitiquito9K
6.3
0.1 years
Fronteras9K
4.0
0.0 years
Ures9K
3.9
0.0 years
Cumpas6K
4.2
0.0 years
Naco6K
3.2
0.0 years
Sahuaripa5K
3.4
0.0 years
Moctezuma5K
4.1
0.0 years
Benjamín Hill5K
2.7
0.0 years
Carbó5K
2.9
0.0 years
Rosario5K
3.6
0.0 years
Yécora5K
3.9
0.0 years
Baviácora3K
3.3
0.0 years
Quiriego3K
3.6
0.0 years
Arizpe3K
4.2
0.0 years
Aconchi3K
3.4
0.0 years
Opodepe3K
2.5
0.0 years
Sáric2K
2.8
0.0 years
La Colorada2K
3.2
0.0 years
Santa Cruz2K
2.9
0.0 years
Banámichi2K
3.8
0.0 years
Nácori Chico2K
3.5
0.0 years
Rayón2K
2.8
0.0 years
Bacoachi2K
4.6
0.0 years
Tubutama2K
3.9
0.0 years
San Pedro de la Cueva2K
4.1
0.0 years
Villa Hidalgo1K
4.7
0.0 years
Trincheras1K
3.7
0.0 years
Soyopa1K
3.4
0.0 years
Bacerac1K
5.1
0.0 years
Huachinera1K
4.5
0.0 years
Tepache1K
3.5
0.0 years
Arivechi1K
3.4
0.0 years
Bavispe1K
5.1
0.0 years
Suaqui Grande1K
3.5
0.0 years
Mazatán1K
3.2
0.0 years
Villa Pesqueira1K
2.9
0.0 years
Granados1K
4.5
0.0 years
Bacadéhuachi1K
4.0
0.0 years
Huépac972
3.6
0.0 years
Huásabas916
4.6
0.0 years
Cucurpe890
2.8
0.0 years
Bacanora782
3.3
0.0 years
Divisaderos776
3.4
0.0 years
Atil646
4.0
0.0 years
San Javier553
3.0
0.0 years
Oquitoa511
4.5
0.0 years
San Felipe de Jesús381
3.2
0.0 years
Onavas377
3.8
0.0 years

Showing 72 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.