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.

Micronesia's Chuuk Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Chuuk

Chuuk faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 36 thousand across 31 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 0.7µg/m³. That's 0.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 12 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 Chuuk met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 36 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 Chuuk. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Satawan
0 years lost
2.Etal
0 years lost
3.Lukunor
0 years lost
4.Namoluk
0 years lost
5.Pulusuk
0 years lost
6.Losap
0 years lost
7.Nama
0 years lost
8.Pulawat
0 years lost
9.Eot
0 years lost
10.Paata
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%

36K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 31 Districts in Chuuk

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Weno	14K	0.7
Tonowas	5K	0.7
Tol	3K	0.7
Paata	3K	0.7
Uman	2K	0.7
Fefan	2K	0.6
Polle	1K	0.7
Pulawat	1K	0.8
Wonei	909	0.7
Lukunor	774	1.2
Udot	708	0.7
Onoun	547	0.6
Param	334	0.7
Romanum	331	0.7
Satawan	257	1.3
Fala-Beguets	222	0.7
Nomwin	214	0.5
Namoluk	186	1.1
Nama	163	0.8
Eot	160	0.7
Losap	151	0.8
Pulusuk	99	0.9
Pulap	91	0.7
Tsis	83	0.0
Etal	13	1.2
Makur	13	0.6
Fayo	0	0.0
Murilo	0	0.0
Neoch	0	0.0
Onomue	0	0.0
Piis-Penau	0	0.0

Showing 31 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Chuuk is Injurious to Health.