Air pollution threatens the health of 322 thousand people across 7 districts in Bay of Plenty. The average PM2.5 level is 4.4 Āµg/mĀ³, within the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Bay of Plenty faces significant air pollution challenges. 14% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 322 thousand across 7 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.4Āµg/mĀ³. That's 0.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 73 cigarettes in a year.
If Bay of Plenty met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 0 years longer.
That's 0 years of life stolen from 322 thousand people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 7 most polluted districts in Bay of Plenty. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 Āµg/mĀ³āonly populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.
Complete air quality data for every district in Bay of Plenty, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tauranga | 139K | 4.3 | 0.0 years |
| Rotorua | 78K | 4.5 | 0.0 years |
| Western Bay of Plenty | 50K | 4.0 | 0.0 years |
| Whakatane | 38K | 4.5 | 0.0 years |
| Opotiki | 9K | 5.1 | 0.0 years |
| Kawerau | 8K | 4.5 | 0.0 years |
| Area Outside Territorial Authori | 189 | 3.3 | 0.0 years |
Showing 7 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.