22,000 Breaths a Day: How Clean Is Lebanon’s Air?
You inhale 22,000 breaths a day. How clean are they?
Air pollution is invisible, yet it is one of the most harmful elements we are exposed to every day. A major contributor to this pollution is PM2.5 — fine particulate matter that measures 2.5 micrometres or smaller. These particles are small enough to reach deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing serious risks to heart and respiratory health. PM2.5 levels are measured in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), the global standard for assessing air quality.
In this analysis, I explored how Lebanon compares to its neighbouring countries and to global regions from 2009 to 2019. The findings tell a decade-long story of stagnation and persistent pollution.
Lebanon vs its Neighbors: A Decade of Stagnation
Over the past decade, Lebanon’s PM2.5 concentration has fluctuated between 23 and 25 µg/m³. While these values place Lebanon below Syria and Turkey, they remain significantly above Cyprus, which consistently records some of the cleanest air in the region. Jordan, though varying slightly year to year, also remains well above safe limits.
Despite these differences, all five countries share one concerning trend: no noticeable improvement over ten years. Lebanon’s air has remained essentially unchanged, offering no signs of meaningful progress in pollution reduction.
How the Middle East Compares to the World
When placing Lebanon’s situation into a broader context, a clearer imbalance emerges. The Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes Lebanon, records an average PM2.5 concentration of 43.33 µg/m³—almost nine times higher than the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³. Only South-East Asia performs slightly worse.
Regions such as Europe and the Americas fall between 12 and 15 µg/m³, much closer to safer exposure levels. This highlights a stark contrast: the Middle East is one of the most polluted regions in the world, and Lebanon sits within this larger environmental challenge.
Why This Matters
A decade with no improvement in air quality means long-term exposure to harmful particles. PM2.5 is linked to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular complications, and reduced life expectancy. Lebanon’s stagnant pollution levels—paired with its region’s exceptionally high averages—underline the need for stronger environmental policies, emission control strategies, and long-term monitoring.
Conclusion
You inhale 22,000 breaths every day. If the data tells us anything, it is that the air behind those breaths is far from clean. Lebanon’s pollution levels remain elevated, unchanged, and embedded within a regional landscape that struggles with some of the highest PM2.5 levels globally. Understanding these patterns is a first step toward addressing them.