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.

Australia's Tasmania Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Tasmania

Tasmania faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 553 thousand across 30 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 1.5µg/m³. That's 0.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 25 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 Tasmania met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 553 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 Tasmania. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Northern Midlands
0 years lost
2.Flinders
0 years lost
3.Launceston
0 years lost
4.West Tamar
0 years lost
5.Meander Valley
0 years lost
6.George Town
0 years lost
7.Devonport
0 years lost
8.Central Coast
0 years lost
9.Dorset
0 years lost
10.Latrobe
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%

553K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 30 Districts in Tasmania

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Launceston	73K	1.9
Clarence	59K	1.3
Hobart	56K	1.3
Glenorchy	50K	1.4
Kingborough	39K	1.3
Devonport	27K	1.8
West Tamar	25K	1.9
Central Coast	23K	1.7
Meander Valley	22K	1.9
Burnie	20K	1.6
Brighton	18K	1.4
Huon Valley	18K	1.2
Sorell	15K	1.3
Northern Midlands	14K	2.0
Waratah/Wynyard	13K	1.6
Latrobe	12K	1.7
Derwent Valley	11K	1.3
Circular Head	8K	1.6
Dorset	7K	1.7
Southern Midlands	7K	1.4
Kentish	7K	1.6
George Town	6K	1.8
Break O'Day	6K	1.6
Glamorgan/Spring Bay	4K	1.4
West Coast	4K	1.5
Central Highlands	3K	1.4
Tasman	2K	1.3
King Island	2K	1.5
Flinders	703	1.9
Macquarie Island	0	0.0

Showing 30 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Tasmania is Injurious to Health.