Breathing in Catamarca is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 428 thousand people across 16 districts in Catamarca. The average PM2.5 level is 15 µg/m³—3.0× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Catamarca

Catamarca faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 428 thousand across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15µg/m³. That's 3.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 249 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 Catamarca met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.98 years longer.

That's 419K years of life stolen from 428 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 Catamarca. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Capital
    1.2 years lost
  • 2.Santa Rosa
    1 years lost
  • 3.Pomán
    1 years lost
  • 4.Paclín
    1 years lost
  • 5.Valle Viejo
    1 years lost
  • 6.La Paz
    0.9 years lost
  • 7.Fray Mamerto Esquiú
    0.9 years lost
  • 8.Ambato
    0.9 years lost
  • 9.Capayán
    0.9 years lost
  • 10.El Alto
    0.8 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0.5%
2K
10-15 µg/m³
49.4%
212K
15-25 µg/m³
50.1%
214K
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 16 Districts in Catamarca

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Capital191K
17.3
1.2 years
Valle Viejo38K
14.7
1.0 years
Belén32K
10.4
0.5 years
Santa María28K
11.7
0.7 years
Tinogasta26K
11.7
0.7 years
La Paz25K
14.7
0.9 years
Capayán21K
13.8
0.9 years
Andalgalá18K
12.3
0.7 years
Pomán13K
15.6
1.0 years
Fray Mamerto Esquiú11K
14.5
0.9 years
Santa Rosa6K
15.6
1.0 years
El Alto6K
13.6
0.8 years
Ambato5K
14.0
0.9 years
Paclín5K
15.1
1.0 years
Ancasti3K
12.1
0.7 years
Antofagasta de la Sierra2K
7.6
0.3 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.