Akola Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Maharashtra, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Akola AQI Right Now
Category: Moderate
Dominant Pollutant: pm10
PM2.5: 58.86 µg/m³
PM10: 114.56 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Akola Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 58.86 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 114.56 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 18.6 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 15.08 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 7.31 µg/m³ |
| CO | 340.6 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Akola
Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.
Health Impact — Akola
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.7 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.32 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Akola
- General Population: People with respiratory or heart conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
- Elderly: Reduce prolonged outdoor activities.
- Children: Reduce prolonged outdoor play.
- Lung Disease Patients: Avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
Understanding Akola Air Quality
Akola, the cotton capital of Vidarbha, sits at the heart of Maharashtra's soybean-cotton belt on the Deccan Plateau. Cotton ginning mills and oil pressing units operate at peak capacity from October through March, generating significant fibrous dust and processing emissions that elevate PM10 across the city. The semi-arid climate of the Purna River basin means rainfall is concentrated in the monsoon months, leaving the rest of the year dry and dusty - road dust becomes a persistent source of coarse particulates.
Winter months (November–February) bring temperature inversions over the flat Deccan terrain, trapping emissions from agricultural stubble burning in the surrounding soybean-cotton fields, vehicle exhaust in the congested market areas, and waste burning from residential colonies. The Purna River's limited flow during dry months reduces moisture-based particle capture, compounding the problem. Akola's position as a major agricultural trading hub means heavy truck and tractor traffic through narrow city roads year-round.
The monsoon season (June–September) delivers the cleanest air as rains wash out particulates and suppress road dust. Post-monsoon cotton harvesting triggers the annual pollution cycle, with ginning mill emissions, crop residue burning, and increased diesel transport all contributing to deteriorating air quality through winter.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Vehicle exhaust
- Cotton ginning and oil pressing
- Road dust
- Agricultural burning
- Waste burning
- Construction dust
Geography: Vidarbha region on Deccan Plateau; cotton and soybean trading hub, semi-arid climate, Purna River basin
Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February
Frequently Asked Questions — Akola
Why does Akola have high air pollution in winter?
Akola's winter pollution peaks due to cotton ginning mill operations, agricultural burning from the surrounding soybean-cotton belt, temperature inversions over the flat Deccan Plateau, and reduced wind dispersion. The Purna River basin's semi-arid conditions mean minimal rainfall to wash out particulates from November through February.
How does the cotton industry affect Akola's air quality?
Cotton ginning mills and oil pressing units release significant fibrous dust and processing emissions during the October–March ginning season. These operations generate fine particulate matter that contributes to elevated PM10 levels across the city, particularly in areas near industrial clusters along the Purna River basin.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Amravati AQI — Maharashtra
- Bhusawal AQI — Maharashtra
- Jalgaon AQI — Maharashtra
- Betul AQI — Madhya Pradesh
- Parbhani AQI — Maharashtra
- Nanded AQI — Maharashtra