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.

Vanuatu's Malampa Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Malampa

Malampa faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 35 thousand across 10 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.5µg/m³. That's 0.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 75 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 Malampa met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 35 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 Malampa. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.North Ambrym
0 years lost
2.West Ambrym
0 years lost
3.Central Malekula
0 years lost
4.North East Malekula
0 years lost
5.South East Malekula
0 years lost
6.Paama
0 years lost
7.North West Malekula
0 years lost
8.South West Malekula
0 years lost
9.South East Ambrym
0 years lost
10.South Malekula
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%

35K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 10 Districts in Malampa

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
North East Malekula	7K	4.6
Central Malekula	7K	4.6
North West Malekula	6K	4.4
South West Malekula	3K	4.2
South East Malekula	3K	4.4
North Ambrym	3K	4.6
West Ambrym	2K	4.6
South Malekula	2K	4.2
South East Ambrym	2K	4.2
Paama	637	4.4

Showing 10 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Malampa is Injurious to Health.