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.

Bolivia's Cochabamba Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Cochabamba

Cochabamba faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.1 million across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 34.7µg/m³. That's 6.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 576 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 Cochabamba met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.9 years longer.

That's 6.2M years of life stolen from 2.1 million 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 Cochabamba. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Carrasco
3.7 years lost
2.Chapare
3.2 years lost
3.Tiraque
3.2 years lost
4.Cercado
2.9 years lost
5.Ayopaya
2.9 years lost
6.Quillacollo
2.8 years lost
7.Capinota
2.5 years lost
8.Arque
2.4 years lost
9.Punata
2.4 years lost
10.Tapacarí
2.3 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

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

2.9%

62K

25-35 µg/m³

72.8%

1.6M

> 35 µg/m³

24.4%

523K

Districts

All 16 Districts in Cochabamba

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Cercado	855K	34.8	2.9 years
Quillacollo	418K	34.0	2.8 years
Chapare	311K	37.9	3.2 years
Carrasco	162K	42.5	3.7 years
Punata	67K	29.1	2.4 years
Ayopaya	52K	34.5	2.9 years
Tiraque	51K	37.8	3.2 years
Esteban Arze	37K	28.6	2.3 years
Mizque	35K	24.1	1.9 years
Germán Jordán	35K	28.6	2.3 years
Capinota	33K	30.3	2.5 years
Campero	27K	22.6	1.7 years
Tapacarí	24K	28.9	2.3 years
Arani	20K	28.2	2.3 years
Arque	17K	29.3	2.4 years
Bolivar	7K	28.4	2.3 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.

Breathing in Cochabamba is Injurious to Health.