Kadapa Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Andhra Pradesh, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Kadapa AQI Right Now

55

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm25

PM2.5: 32.35 µg/m³

PM10: 51.57 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Kadapa Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.532.35 µg/m³
PM1051.57 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)12.36 µg/m³
NO₂9.25 µg/m³
SO₂2.71 µg/m³
CO183.38 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Kadapa

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Kadapa

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.5 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.15 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Kadapa

  • General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
  • Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Kadapa Air Quality

Kadapa (also spelled Cuddapah), nestled in the Pennar River valley in the heart of Rayalaseema, is ground zero for Andhra Pradesh's cement industry. The Kadapa basin - a geological formation rich in limestone, barytes, and other minerals - hosts some of India's largest cement plants including those by Ultratech, Dalmia, and The India Cements. The resulting quarrying, crushing, and clinker production create a persistent mineral dust load that defines the city's air quality character.

The November–February winter period sees the worst air quality as temperature inversions settle over the Pennar valley, trapping cement plant emissions, quarry dust, and vehicle exhaust close to ground level. PM10 levels during this period routinely exceed 150 µg/m³ in areas downwind of the cement corridor south of the city. Heavy truck traffic carrying limestone, cement bags, and granite blocks through the city on state highways compounds the problem. Agricultural burning of groundnut stalks and cotton residue in the surrounding dry-farming belt adds seasonal fine particulate emissions.

Kadapa's semi-arid climate (annual rainfall ~650 mm) limits natural dust suppression for most of the year. The monsoon months (June–September) provide the only sustained relief, with rainfall washing out airborne particulates and suppressing quarry dust. Post-monsoon drying in October quickly returns dust levels to poor ranges. The Pennar River, though largely dry outside monsoon months, provides a minor wind corridor that offers some ground-level ventilation. Despite its industrial dust challenges, Kadapa's relatively low population density and open terrain prevent the concentrated urban pollution seen in larger cities.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Cement industry emissions
  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Limestone and granite quarrying dust
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Agricultural burning

Geography: Pennar River valley in Rayalaseema, semi-arid Deccan plateau; one of India's largest cement production clusters, surrounded by limestone and granite quarries

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Kadapa

How does the cement industry affect Kadapa's air quality?

Kadapa sits atop the Kadapa basin, one of India's richest limestone deposits, and hosts multiple large cement plants. Limestone quarrying, crushing, and cement clinker production generate persistent coarse particulate (PM10) emissions. Areas downwind of the cement corridor routinely record PM10 levels exceeding 150 µg/m³ during winter months when atmospheric inversions trap the dust.

What is the best time for clean air in Kadapa?

July and August offer the cleanest air in Kadapa, when monsoon rainfall suppresses quarry dust and washes out airborne particulates. AQI during these months typically stays in the Good to Satisfactory range, offering significant relief from the persistent mineral dust that characterises the dry months.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities