Kavali Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Kavali AQI Right Now

114

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm25

PM2.5: 63.97 µg/m³

PM10: 63.97 µg/m³

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

Kavali Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.563.97 µg/m³
PM1063.97 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)10.26 µg/m³
NO₂16.99 µg/m³
SO₂2.86 µg/m³
CO306.96 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Kavali

Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.

Health Impact — Kavali

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.9 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.35 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Kavali

  • 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 Kavali Air Quality

Kavali, a rapidly growing town in Nellore district on the coastal Andhra Pradesh plain, sits at the intersection of NH-16 (the Chennai–Kolkata highway) and a vast rice-growing delta. Heavy transit truck traffic on NH-16 - one of India's busiest freight corridors - creates a persistent baseline of vehicular PM and road dust through the town centre. The surrounding rice paddies contribute seasonal agricultural burning smoke, particularly during the kharif stubble-burning period from November to January.

The dry months from December through March see the highest particulate levels, though Kavali's proximity to the Bay of Bengal (approximately 20 km) ensures coastal breezes moderate pollution compared to deeper inland towns. PM2.5 levels during peak months typically remain in the Moderate range (NAQI 100–150), significantly lower than Indo-Gangetic Plain cities. Fishing boat diesel emissions add a localised coastal component, and the town's growing urban footprint brings increasing construction dust.

The southwest monsoon (June–September) and northeast monsoon (October–December) together deliver 900–1,100 mm of rainfall that effectively suppresses dust and cleans the atmosphere. Post-cyclone periods occasionally bring brief air quality improvements from storm-driven atmospheric flushing. Kavali's moderate size and coastal geography give it a natural advantage in air quality, though highway-proximate areas face considerably higher exposure to traffic-related pollutants.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Agricultural burning
  • Construction dust
  • Fishing boat emissions
  • Waste burning

Geography: Nellore district on coastal AP; NH-16 highway town, rice-growing belt, Bay of Bengal coastal influence

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Kavali

What is the most polluted month in Kavali?

January and February are typically the most polluted months in Kavali, with AQI readings primarily in the Moderate range (NAQI 100–150). The post-monsoon dry spell allows road dust and vehicular emissions from NH-16 highway traffic to accumulate, compounded by rice stubble burning in surrounding agricultural fields.

What causes air pollution in Kavali?

Kavali's air pollution is driven by heavy vehicular traffic on NH-16 (Chennai–Kolkata highway), road dust on expanding but often unpaved urban roads, seasonal rice paddy stubble burning in the surrounding delta, construction dust from urban growth, and diesel emissions from fishing boats in the nearby coastal zone.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities