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.

Colombia's Córdoba Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Córdoba

Córdoba faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.8 million across 28 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18µg/m³. That's 3.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 299 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 Córdoba met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.25 years longer.

That's 2.2M years of life stolen from 1.8 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 Córdoba. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ayapel
1.6 years lost
2.La Apartada
1.5 years lost
3.Buenavista
1.4 years lost
4.Montelíbano
1.4 years lost
5.Cotorra
1.4 years lost
6.Chimá
1.4 years lost
7.Montería
1.3 years lost
8.Cereté
1.3 years lost
9.Puerto Libertador
1.3 years lost
10.Planeta Rica
1.3 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

100%

1.8M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 28 Districts in Córdoba

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Montería	458K	18.7	1.3 years
Santa Cruz de Lorica	120K	17.8	1.2 years
Tierralta	108K	17.3	1.2 years
Montelíbano	94K	19.5	1.4 years
Cereté	92K	18.7	1.3 years
San Andrés de Sotavento	89K	16.1	1.1 years
San Bernardino de Sahagún	88K	16.4	1.1 years
Planeta Rica	69K	18.4	1.3 years
Ciénaga de Oro	68K	18.1	1.3 years
Puerto Libertador	58K	18.4	1.3 years
Ayapel	54K	21.4	1.6 years
Chinú	49K	16.0	1.1 years
Valencia	47K	16.9	1.2 years
San Pelayo	41K	17.6	1.2 years
Pueblo Nuevo	41K	17.9	1.3 years
San Antero	33K	15.7	1.0 years
San Bernardo del Viento	32K	16.3	1.1 years
Puerto Escondido	32K	15.9	1.1 years
San Carlos	28K	18.3	1.3 years
Los Córdobas	26K	16.1	1.1 years
Moñitos	26K	15.8	1.1 years
Canalete	23K	16.1	1.1 years
Buenavista	22K	19.6	1.4 years
Cotorra	17K	19.1	1.4 years
La Apartada	16K	20.3	1.5 years
Chimá	15K	19.0	1.4 years
Momil	15K	17.3	1.2 years
Purísima	14K	17.4	1.2 years

Showing 28 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Córdoba is Injurious to Health.