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.

Solomon Islands's Malaita Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Malaita

Malaita faces significant air pollution challenges. 88% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 140 thousand across 33 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.1µg/m³. That's 1.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 101 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 Malaita met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.1 years longer.

That's 14K years of life stolen from 140 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 Malaita. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Areare
0.2 years lost
2.Mareho
0.1 years lost
3.Faumamanu - Kwai
0.1 years lost
4.Tai
0.1 years lost
5.Gulalafou
0.1 years lost
6.Weagu Silana Sina
0.1 years lost
7.Kwaimela - Radefasu
0.1 years lost
8.Kwarekwareo
0.1 years lost
9.Waneagu-Taelanasin
0.1 years lost
10.Asimae
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

1.5%

5-10 µg/m³

98.5%

138K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 33 Districts in Malaita

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Takwa	10K	5.6	0.1 years
Fauabu	8K	6.0	0.1 years
Auki	8K	6.2	0.1 years
Kwaimela - Radefasu	7K	6.4	0.1 years
Aimela	7K	6.2	0.1 years
Waneagu-Taelanasin	7K	6.4	0.1 years
Raroisuu	6K	6.3	0.1 years
Aiaisi	6K	6.3	0.1 years
Nafinua	6K	6.3	0.1 years
Areare	6K	6.6	0.2 years
Foondo - Gwaiau	6K	5.8	0.1 years
Sububenu-Burianias	6K	6.1	0.1 years
Asimae	5K	6.4	0.1 years
East Baegu	5K	6.0	0.1 years
Buma	5K	6.1	0.1 years
Aba - Asimeuru	5K	6.3	0.1 years
Tai	5K	6.4	0.1 years
Gulalafou	4K	6.4	0.1 years
Weagu Silana Sina	3K	6.4	0.1 years
Mareho	3K	6.5	0.1 years
Faumamanu - Kwai	3K	6.5	0.1 years
Siesie	3K	6.3	0.1 years
Mandalua - Folotana	3K	6.0	0.1 years
Kwarekwareo	2K	6.4	0.1 years
Matakwalao	2K	5.6	0.1 years
Langalanga	2K	6.3	0.1 years
Malu'u	2K	5.6	0.1 years
West Baegut-Fatale	2K	5.9	0.1 years
Fouenda	2K	5.3	0.0 years
Pelau	1K	3.5	0.0 years
Luaniua	589	3.3	0.0 years
Sikaiana	397	4.7	0.0 years
Sulufou-Kwarande	0	0.0	0.0 years

Showing 33 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Malaita is Injurious to Health.