Itanagar Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Itanagar AQI Right Now

43

Category: Good

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 25.05 µg/m³

PM10: 43.13 µg/m³

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

Itanagar Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.525.05 µg/m³
PM1043.13 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)2.8 µg/m³
NO₂9.98 µg/m³
SO₂2.79 µg/m³
CO183.83 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Itanagar

Good: Minimal impact on health. Great day to be outdoors!

Health Impact — Itanagar

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.1 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.1 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Itanagar

  • General Population: Air quality is satisfactory. Enjoy outdoor activities.
  • Elderly: No special precautions needed.
  • Children: Great day for outdoor play.
  • Lung Disease Patients: No restrictions on outdoor activities.

Understanding Itanagar Air Quality

Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, sits at approximately 350 metres elevation in the eastern Himalayan foothills surrounded by dense subtropical forests and steep terrain. As one of India's smallest state capitals with a population under 60,000, the city generates relatively modest pollution from local sources. The absence of heavy industry in the region, combined with abundant green cover and high annual rainfall exceeding 2,500 mm, means that Itanagar enjoys generally good air quality for most of the year, with AQI readings frequently in the Good category.

The dry season from December through March represents Itanagar's relative pollution peak. During these months, reduced rainfall allows particulate matter from vehicle exhaust, construction dust, and waste burning to linger in the atmosphere. Jhum cultivation fires on surrounding hillsides contribute seasonal smoke, particularly visible during February and March when farmers prepare land for the next cycle. The city's rapid growth has brought increased vehicular traffic along narrow hill roads not designed for current volumes, and construction activity for new government buildings and residential areas adds to dust levels in the dry season.

The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings torrential rain that thoroughly scrubs the atmosphere, maintaining AQI in the Good to Satisfactory range. Post-monsoon months (October–November) retain good air quality as residual moisture suppresses dust. Itanagar's primary long-term air quality concern centres on rising vehicle numbers and unplanned construction in a hilly terrain where narrow valleys can trap emissions during calm winter mornings - but the city's extraordinary rainfall and forest cover provide a powerful natural cleansing mechanism.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Waste burning
  • Jhum (slash-and-burn) farming smoke
  • Road dust

Geography: State capital of Arunachal Pradesh at ~350m in the Himalayan foothills; nestled in densely forested Papum Pare district with the Dikrong River nearby and annual rainfall exceeding 2,500mm

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Itanagar

What is the air quality like in Itanagar?

Itanagar generally enjoys good air quality owing to its Himalayan foothill location, dense forest cover, and extremely high annual rainfall (~2,500 mm). AQI readings typically remain in the Good category for most of the year. Even during the drier winter months (December–March), pollution levels rarely cross the Moderate threshold, making it one of India's cleaner capitals.

What causes air pollution in Itanagar?

Itanagar's limited pollution comes primarily from vehicle exhaust on congested hill roads, construction dust from rapid urban expansion, open waste burning, and seasonal jhum (slash-and-burn) farming smoke from surrounding hillsides during the dry season. The city has no heavy industry, so pollution sources are local and seasonal.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities