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.

Virgin Islands, U.S.'s Saint Thomas Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Saint Thomas

Saint Thomas faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 46 thousand across 7 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 2.2µg/m³. That's 0.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 37 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 Saint Thomas met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 46 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 7 most polluted districts in Saint Thomas. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Tutu
0 years lost
2.Water Island
0 years lost
3.East End
0 years lost
4.Charlotte Amalie
0 years lost
5.Southside
0 years lost
6.Northside
0 years lost
7.West End
0 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

100%

46K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 7 Districts in Saint Thomas

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Charlotte Amalie	12K	2.3
Northside	12K	2.1
East End	7K	2.3
Tutu	7K	2.4
Southside	5K	2.2
West End	3K	2.1
Water Island	518	2.3

Showing 7 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Saint Thomas is Injurious to Health.