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 Temotu Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Temotu

Temotu faces significant air pollution challenges. 41% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 17 thousand across 17 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 5.1µg/m³. That's 1.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 85 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 Temotu met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 17 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 Temotu. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Nevenema
0.1 years lost
2.Luva Station
0 years lost
3.Nea-Noole
0 years lost
4.Neo
0 years lost
5.Graciosa Bay
0 years lost
6.North East Santa Cruz
0 years lost
7.Nanggu-Lord Howe
0 years lost
8.Fenualoa
0 years lost
9.Lipe-Temua
0 years lost
10.Manuopo
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

27.2%

5-10 µg/m³

72.8%

13K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 17 Districts in Temotu

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Luva Station	4K	5.5	0.0 years
Nea-Noole	2K	5.5	0.0 years
Nanggu-Lord Howe	2K	5.2	0.0 years
North East Santa Cruz	2K	5.4	0.0 years
Neo	2K	5.4	0.0 years
Vanikoro	1K	4.3	0.0 years
Utupua	938	4.4	0.0 years
Graciosa Bay	850	5.4	0.0 years
Nipua-Nopoli	597	4.6	0.0 years
Manuopo	581	4.6	0.0 years
Nevenema	549	5.6	0.1 years
Fenualoa	509	4.6	0.0 years
Lipe-Temua	263	4.6	0.0 years
Nenumpo	203	3.0	0.0 years
Duff Islands	168	3.3	0.0 years
Polynesian Outer Islands	0	0.0	0.0 years
Tikopia	0	0.0	0.0 years

Showing 17 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Temotu is Injurious to Health.